He is a man of learning and high moral standards. From what was said about him at his felicitation last Wednesday at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI), an image of Siri Ranasinghe as an admirable journalist and a philanthropist started to take form and shape in our minds. The compere at the event, SLFI Chairman and veteran journalist Saman Athudahetti described him as a complete journalist who felt the pulse of the masses.
Most Ven. Thirikunamalaye Ananda Thera delivering an Anusasana
The speakers all described him as one of those people who shone as bright as the afternoon sun when it came to high moral standards. The felicitation ceremony was held under the patronage of Chairman of the Wijeya Newspapers Ranjith Wijewardene to honour the scribe and leader Siri Ranasinghe. Lake House Chairman Prof. Harendra Kariyawasam and Upali Newspapers Chairman Nimal Welgama also graced the momentous occasion. Two former Presidents were also in attendance – Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena.
Siri Ranasinghe’s warmth and his charm endeared him to all of us gathered in the audience. “I have a deep connection to all of you gathered here. If I am to speak about this journey, I would say that some of it has not been pre-planned. Some of this happened by chance. I must say that some of it was very humorous. Because I came from a different region of Sri Lanka, my accent was a little different than that of my school mates. They asked me why I talked like that. I attended many schools, so you could say that I was always on the trot. Then came the time I was looking for a job. There was an advertisement in the Silumina paper.
Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya greets Siri Ranasinghe
I filled in the application form and sent it. Then I was invited for a written exam which I passed. I had an interview with the Editor of Dinamina, Dharmapala Wettasinghe.Then I had another interview with then Lake House Chairman Ranjith Wijewardene, son of Lake House founder D.R. Wijewardene. So, I joined Lake House after these series of examinations/interviews. Somewhere in the 1980’s, I had to leave Lake House. So while I was staying at home, another event occurred that I had not anticipated or planned. There was a time when Lake House had an Editor called S. Subasinghe under Ranjith Wijewardene. Then Wijewardene invited him and Percy Jayamanna to start Wijeya Newspapers. While at home I got a message asking me to meet Subasinghe.
I then met Subasinghe. I had worked under him at the Dinamina. So we were acquainted. Subasinghe was the editor of Wijeya and Irida Lankadeepa. For whatever reason he subsequently left. Sometime afterwards Jayamanna also left. I had functioned as Deputy Editor under them,” said Ranasinghe.
Responsibilities
Destiny brings people together. It is possible that Ranasinghe was certainly at the right time and the right place. “It was then that I received a message from Gangaramaya’s podi hamuduruwo. He advised me to take on the post at the Irida Lankadeepa. I said I need to think about this, because the post carries a lot of responsibilities and I must be cautious. I said I need around a week to mull over this. I had many friends, such as Lakshman Jayawardena, who later joined Wijeya Newspapers from Lake House, (and who re-joined Lake House later as its Chairman) and a few others. They asked me to accept the post. That was how I accepted the post at Irida Lankadeepa. I had the full support of the Chairman, and I must say that sales increased.”
Siri Ranasinghe seated with Wijeya Newspapers Chairman Ranjith Wijewardene and Upali Newspapers Chairman Nimal Welgama
It was then that the Chairman wanted to start a Daily Lankadeepa and was wondering who to appoint as Editor. He was advised to appoint Siri Ranasinghe as Editor. “The rest is history. I have served as editor of Lankadeepa for 33 consecutive years. At one point, I was editor of Irida Lankadeepa, Daily Lankadeepa and Sirikatha. After that Sirikatha was given to someone else, and later on Irida Lankadeepa was also given to someone else, and from 1991, I have been serving as Editor of Daily Lankadeepa,” said Ranasinghe, who retired on December 22.
Ranasinghe is confident that he has done a good job, and that he has been successful. However, he added that in the coming years it will be the readership that will finally decide how he will be remembered in history. “I am old now and not the young man I was. I feel I need to be at home now. I cannot predict the future. One thing I have learnt from the newspaper business is how to ascertain and understand the pulse of the people.
This I feel is the reason for my success at the Lankadeepa. I must say that my self-confidence has also contributed to my success. But I believe that for an organisation to thrive, flourish and grow, team work is essential. It is not a one-man job. Lankadeepa is successful because of our team work. For this I must thank my staff. They have worked hard. Lastly I wish to say if I have unwittingly hurt someone, I am sorry, because in this industry you cannot please everyone,” he said.
Chief Prelate of Amarapura Sri Dharmarakshitha Maha Nikaya, Most Ven. Thirikunamalaye Ananda Thera in his Anusasana called Siri Ranasinghe a good man with humane qualities. According to the Most Ven. Thera, Ranasinghe is unbiased, fair, competent and talented. His character was such that he felt no resentment when someone pointed out his faults. He immediately corrected himself. He always showed patience and tolerance.
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa with Siri Ranasinghe
Such was his humility. There is no doubt that Ranasinghe was hard working. The paper is his passion. He is dedicated to his readers, always trying to find out – “What is the state of my newspaper? What are the other newspapers doing? Is there any way I can improve my paper?”He was never arrogant. He was someone who was always there to help others.
Great son
“Siri Ranasinghe had not only served Lankadeepa, he has served so many others in the country. He is a man of noble character. His parents can be proud of him. His teachers can be proud of him. They have nurtured a great son of Sri Lanka. Siri Ranasinghe used his strength, intelligence and resources to help others. He has always done his utmost for the betterment of society.
Over the years we have seen him display his humane qualities. He has always had a correct and a positive attitude. Being able to associate with him is an honour for all of us. He is a fitting example for others in the media industry today. A journalist should always be independent. He or she should be unbiased, impartial and fair. Ranasinghe possessed all these qualities.
Siri Ranasinghe is also objective, not letting emotion get in the way. It is a generally accepted belief that a paper is there for the wellbeing and progress of the people and the country. It is not there to incite unlawful behaviour or riots. A paper should be there to foster peace and harmony in society. Accountability is very important, and this is a key attribute in a paper and in a reporter.
He dedicated his life to his readers and the paper. Siri Ranasinghe is respected by all. In all positions he held, he acted like a gentleman with impeccable manners. He is a man who could endure so much that life throws at him. He has always been patient. When it comes to organising his paper, he is second to none. He talks less and listens more. I feel that right throughout Samsara he has been developing these humane qualities,” the Thera said.
Retired principal, Deiyandara Amara Gunasekara, pointed out that Deiyandara College has a history of 140 years and that the arrival of Siri Ranasinghe marked a transitional stage for the school. “Ranasinghe showed great potential. Even though he became a rising star later on in life, he never forgot his roots. He always kept in touch with the school that nurtured him. He did his best to give back to the school to show his gratitude.
Because of this I consider him a rarity. He always wanted to see that his old school prospered and flourished. He aided us in so many ways. He was involved in so many programs aimed at developing the school. He was involved in the school library, supplying priceless and valuable books to the school. When it came to infrastructure he helped out in many ways using his contacts. He also assisted in sports activities annually. During festivals he brought in scholars from various fields. And for this he did not try to take all the credit. He did it for the school, his alma mater. This is why we are all so proud of him,” said Gunasekara.
Dhamma school
Ranasinghe also helped out in the development of a famous 300-year-old temple. “Ranasinghe with the help of philanthropists provided modern facilities to the temple. With the resources he had, he helped upgrade the Dhamma school.
He also brought in scholars and artistes in the island to prize-giving ceremonies. In order to educate the children, he donated important and valuable books to the library. He even carpeted the road to the temple with State sponsorship. He also organised various sermons. This showed his great respect for religion. Because of his efforts the temple is now one of the best in the region.”
Gunasekara also said that Deiyandara hospital was lacking in facilities. There was also limited staff. But because of Ranasinghe’s efforts it is now a fully functioning efficient hospital with adequate resources. At that time there was no ambulance. People had to travel long distances to get their loved ones to a hospital. The poor had to pay the costs which they could not afford, and some of these people were very ill, very sick. Ranasinghe intervened and has provided assistance, giving people so much relief,” he said.
Ranasinghe has assisted in other numerous philanthropic activities. In order for the public to buy food at a reasonable price he was instrumental in getting a Sathosa branch for the village. “Ranasinghe made sure that a fully equipped police station was built in Deiyandara. With his intervention he saw that a Magistrate’s Courts Complex that operated all five days of the week was created in Deiyandara. If this did not happen the public would be greatly inconvenienced, and would have to travel long distances. This was a great relief to them. And then he saw to the establishment of a Bank of Ceylon branch with all its facilities.”
Ranasinghe had intervened in so many aspects of life for his village. This was what he did for Deiyandara. He was a blessing to the village people who he never forgot. He was always close to them, and he used his clout for the benefit of the people in the villages.
(Pix by Ranjith Asanka)
