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PICASSO OF PRINT – Gamini Weerakoon – by Joe Van Langenberg With the sad passing of former ‘Island’ Newspaper Editor Gamini Weerakoon, the Fourth Estate, which he had enriched and nurtured over many decades, has lost a huge chunk of its very soul; leaving it’s heart bleeding, wounded, while refusing to come to terms with the harsh reality, that one of its most valued members has crossed over. Mr Weerakoon was the consummate journalist; a stickler for perfection, who had a flair for creativity and an eye for the minutest detail. He was without a doubt, the Picasso of Print. Never one to stand on ceremony, Mr Weerakoon despite been a journalistic Gulliver among Lilliputians, never believed that he was above and beyond any of his colleagues. Unassuming, understanding, empathetic and approachable at all times, Mr Weerakoon mentored many aspiring young scribes along the way. Most of them cut their ...

Jan 1, 2024 Posted by In Articles, Obituaries Tagged , , ,
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Appreciation – Gamini Weerakoon – By Tilak Fernando Everything in this world must come to an end. This happened to Gamini Weerakoon, Journalist and former Chief Editor of “The Island,” Gamini Weerakoon, who passed away on 11 November 2023 peacefully after a brief illness. I saw it, the ‘Sunday Observer.’ With deep sadness, I announce the death of the Chief Editor, who passed on Tuesday, 11 November 2023. He is surviewed by his wife Rajitha, who is also a well-known journalist and one daughter. He was an old boy of St. Thomas College, Mount Lavinia. He began his journalistic career at the Sunday Observer five decades ago. There, he served as a News Editor. When I was living in London as a student, and I had gone through a course in Journalism, in between my studies, the Chairman of the ‘Island’ Dr Sivali Ratwatte arrived in London. He was a ...

Nov 13, 2023 Posted by In Articles, Tilak S Fernando Tagged , , , , ,
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The architect behind Colombo’s Grand Mosque-By Nishan Fernando Source:Sundaytimes On May 1, 2002, the then Editor of The Island newspaper, Gamini Weerakoon, wrote an appreciation on his close friend Ananda Peiris on his third month death anniversary, mentioning among many things that Mr. Peiris had designed the Colombo Grand Mosque at Pettah. Very keen to see her father’s creation, my wife Anoushka and I arranged a visit through a Moor acquaintance. We found an imposing structure in the old quarter of Central Colombo, a solitary date palm standing sentinel at the main entrance. The building was rather modern in comparison to the others on Moor Street. A small cannon in the compound puzzled me by its presence in a place of worship. Many years later, I found an article from the Ceylon Daily News of February 7, 1972 that gave extensive details of the building of the Mosque, which commenced ...

Nov 7, 2022 Posted by In Articles Tagged , , ,
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