Fearless Sri Lankan Journalist Iqbal Athas Passes Away – By Lawrence Machado
Image Source : dailynews.lk
One of Sri Lanka’s best journalists and international defence correspondents, Iqbal Athas, passed away on Tuesday, January 13, leaving a legacy of explosive stories and exclusives spanning several decades. He died aged 81, after a brief illness.
A fearless writer, Iqbal worked for several international media organisations, including CNN, UPI, and Worldwide Television News (WTN) and was Consulting Editor of the Sunday Times.
“Internationally renowned for his in-depth reporting on security and defence affairs, Athas earned widespread recognition for his controversial and influential articles on the wartime security situation, published in the Sunday Times,” the Daily Mirror said in its tribute.
In 2000, The New York Times described him as “the country’s leading military correspondent.” In 1994, Iqbal was honoured with the International Press Freedom Award by the Committee to Protect Journalists, in recognition of his courage and commitment to press freedom in the face of threats and adversity.
In 2007, he was awarded the Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award for his contribution to CNN’s coverage of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. The prestigious prize recognises excellence in broadcast, documentary, and digital journalism.
Among the other awards Iqbal won were the Journalist of the Year 1998 and Columnist of the Year 2001 both awarded by the Editors Guild of Sri Lanka.
It was a wonderful welcome to the world of journalism at the independent newspaper group, and though I left Sri Lanka in 1982, we kept in touch.
During his visit, he told us of people coming with guns coming to his home and advising him to stop writing his defence columns. But Iqbal never relented and kept producing his columns which highlighted the controversial contracts, and deals plus mission successes and failures of both sides.
Iqbal Athas, Beloved son of late Sainudeen Marikkar Mohamed Athas and Dawlathul Jalaliya. Beloved Husband of A Athas, Father of Jasmin Athas(Germany), passed away on Tuesday, January 13.
Beloved Brother of late Hilmy Athas, Shiraz Athas(Dhargatown), Hassan Athas(Canada), Zaneetha Athas and Rihana Athas.
Beloved uncle of Shakila Nawas, Roshan Nawas, Faizeen Faizal, Fazreen Hassan, Fazly Faizal, Nuzly Athas, Nawshad Athas, Shamila Athas, Rizna Athas, Hisham Athas.
“Indeed, to Allah we belong, and indeed, to Him we shall return”
