The funeral of senior journalist and popular writer Pradeep Kumara Balasuriya will be held at the Kasagahawatta Public Cemetery, Gampaha today (Sunday 7) at 4:00 p.m.
Pradeep, who was born on March 28, 1960, died at the age of 64 due to a sudden illness. An alumnus of Mahanama College and Ananda College , Colombo, Pradeep started his media career with the Dawasa newspaper.
He also worked as a journalist in the Divaina newspaper and is more popular among Sri Lankan newspaper fans through youth newspapers like Kumari, Araliya and Sandarenu. Pradeep, who became the Editor-in-Chief of Araliya newspaper started by veteran journalist Bandula Padmakumara, is a senior journalist who helped many new writers. He also worked in Sarasi and Sanda Renu newspapers for some time and later ran his own advertising agency called Image Plus.
He has authored 81 books. Among them are 22 novels, 36 positive thought works, 10 Dhamma books, six translation novels and seven biographies.
Pradeep, who got married to Wasana Liyanarachchi in 1990, has also written a number of popular songs. His remains lie at No. 53/F, Parakum Place, Pahalagama, Gampaha till 2 p.m. today.
