Tribute to a veteran journalist

Glorious days with Ajith Samaranayake

by Prasad Gunewardene

My good friend for nearly three decades, the affable Ajith Samaranayake is no more. Much was written about this great and brave journalist during the past three days following his untimely demise last Wednesday. A week before his death (exactly) the previous Wednesday was the last time I met him at the Sunday Observer Sports Desk. We met twice on that day. I shall come to those details later in this tribute.

I came to know Ajith in 1977 when he was attached to the Sunday Observer. I was then a reporter in the now defunct "Sun" group of newspapers. Later, in 1981 when the late Philip Upali Wijewardene started "The Island" I had the privilege to work with Ajith in that editorial. Ajith introduced D.B.S. Jeyaraj into English journalism and we three were very close friends who haunted the city till late hours of the day. The amiable Ajith led the Parliament reporting team as Lobby Correspondent. This quiet unassuming young man at that time always sat in a corner in the editorial. He was most of the time busy reading. At times he fell asleep with the book.

As Lobby Correspondent in Parliament, Ajith was one who rarely took full details of the proceedings. He would note down a few lines on the back of the Order Paper. All what happened was carved in his memory. He would return to office and start his copy on the Adler typewriter of the good old days. Ajith was a one-finger typist like me. Jeyaraj and I used to wait till he finished his copy to join him in the evenings to visit the Kotahena town. Our favourite places were the "Premil Sports Club" or the "Upali Sports Club". We spent long hours in those places discussing parliament, politics and the situation in the country. Spending hours with Ajith was educative. The command of his English was impressive. Jeyaraj and I learnt a lot from Ajith. While Ajith was a quiet soul, we two were the opposite. Ajith played the role of a 'mediator' many a time whenever the 'situation' got out of control inside those clubs as the day grew darker.

Ajith was admired and respected by all sections of the society. He could take control of any situation. He possessed a charming character and was a sincere friend. At troubled times he was a man who led from the front. I could remember during the 1983 riots, how he volunteered to attend to the welfare of Jeyaraj's parents and family housed at the Ratmalana Airport refugee camp. Both of us made regular visits on the instructions of our then Editor Vijitha Yapa and his deputy Gamini Weerakoon. Ajith was always concerned about the welfare of those in difficulty and walking an extra mile was joy for him.

To me, Ajith was not only a sincere friend but, also a tutor. While covering parliament he guided me on how to report proceedings. Later, he taught me how to become a Lobby Correspondent. Ajith was the first to start the "IN THE GALLERY' lobby for The Island. His guidance helped me to continue that column for that newspaper after Ajith left to join the Sunday Observer as Editor. In his profession, Ajith rose to the top within a short time.He was Deputy Editor of The Island, Editor Sunday Island, Editor Sunday Observer Editor-in-chief of English newspapers of Lake House and finally the Editor of the Friday tabloid. Ajith had a brilliant command of both English and Sinhala languages. But, Ajith had no time to regularly contribute to the Sinhala press.

I remember during the early 1980's, we used to send our parliament copies to 'The Island' office by van,get off at Punchi Borella to visit "Oliver Ayyage Kamare" (the small room of Oliver, a native of Ambalangoda) located behind the Du Roi liquor shop. There we were joined by

Jackson Senaratne and Bennet Rupasinghe from the "Aththa" newspaper, Benny Jayasundere from the earlier "Lankadeepa" and Bandula Abeyratne and Piyaratne Colombage from the "Dinamina". At times our discussions continued till the early hours of the next day. Our discussions centred on topics that ranged from art to culture and society to politics. It was also interesting to listen to contributions from Jackson Senaratne. At times Ajith would engage himself in heated debates with Jackson. After lengthy and tired discussions and with the strength of the 'spirits' faded away, we spent the remaining hours in Oliver Ayya's room and returned to parliament to cover the day's proceedings.

Before I married in March 1984, Ajith seated opposite me at the Premil Sports Club cracked, "Jeyaraj, very soon our trio will be reduced to two with him getting married",pointing his finger at me. "Don't worry, we have another place to spend the nights once he is married", my friend Jeyaraj chipped in. So it happened. Whenever, we spent long hours in the city, Ajith and Jeyaraj were guests at my house in Wattala. Later, they became friends of my mother-in-law who loved talking to journalists and others at home. They loved Ajith and Jeyaraj much. When I conveyed the sad news of Ajith's untimely demise to them over the phone last Wednesday morning, they were all in tears. That was how everybody loved Ajith though he was not met by them for some years. Ajith will always stay with them.

Last Tuesday, Ajith walked up to me while I was seated at the Sports Desk enjoying a puff. We spoke for about an hour.We discussed about the ethnic problem at length. Our listeners were office aides, Stanley Jayaweera, Nalin Surendra and Shantha Yasapala. They were delighted over the manner we both exchanged views on the realities pertaining to the ethnic problem and the history relating to its cause. At the conclusion Ajith stood up, shook hands with me and said, "I am really happy about your valuable contribution." Later, he made a second visit to the Sunday Observer editorial to meet me.

That had been the time his sister had been brutally murdered by two assassins at her Nugegoda home. The next evening I telephoned Ajith at home to condole over the tragic death of his sister. Ajith cried like a child over the phone saying it had happened the previous day at the time he was with me in office. Later, Ajith had come to office, written the editorial for his Friday tabloid and left. That was Ajith's final visit to Lake House. Volumes can be written about the glorious past I spent with this great journalist friend. But, space here does not warrant many heart breaking lines. Ajith, though you are gone, your memories will linger forever. You were kind to all but, only unkind to yourself. Good bye Ajith till we meet again on that golden shore.

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