'Both knew we were meant for each other'

Darling we aren't too old, though we pass the Jubilee Gold

by Lakmal Welabada

Relaxed on his rocking chair, Newton Guneratne, the man of challenges; whose hobby has been to face challenges begins to talk, revealing his past, his career and personal life.

His triplets grandchildren are his treasure. The 'media giant' who wanted everything to be spick and span, and always with the 'go..go and do it' mood to his counterparts and subordinates seems never to feel tired of the endless bouts and riots of his three little imps.

Being one of the pioneers in the new wave of Lankan electronic media (both TV and Radio) for nearly 40 years working non-stop both day and night, Newton Guneratne today enjoys the leisure of his evening.

Kasakara Dewala Annakkage Mendis of Matara and Watunantirige Littie de Alwis were his parents. Newton's father was a electrical technician who had migrated from Down South to Colombo looking for greener pastures. Newton was the eldest child born on December 4 in 1940.

"My father was a strict, but friendly person who loved all his five children (three boys and two girls) equally. Those days we didn't have a radio as it was the time that the radio was first introduced to Sri Lanka. We were staying at Kollupitiya. My father used to fetch us to Sirisanda Hotel at Galle Road to give us the opportunity to listen to the music. And that laid the first stone for my enthusiasm to become a radio artiste; media person," he recalls.

Newton's family was living near the Polwatta Temple, Kollupitiya around the Temple Trees. "My father was a strong follower of Angarika Dharmapala. So he wanted me also to follow his foot steps.

The Buddhist education I had at the Polwatta Sunday Dhamma School was very effective. I attended to the Maha Bodhi Vidyalaya, Colombo 7 which was started by Dharmapala," he says.

"However the environment we lived in was mixed with communities of Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Burgers. So we, the children did not have any sort of racial or communal mind. We played soccer and cricket together at the Beira grounds and other places in the Kollupitiya area. Colombo was not so congested as today. There were many lands," says Newton.

Later in 1952-1953, Newton's family also got a radio. Many assembled at his place to listen to the songs of Ananda Samarakoon, Greta Janet de Silva, M. K. Vincent, Sunil Shantha, P. L. A. and Chitra Somapala, Kanthi Wakwella and Susil Premaratne.

"Theirs were the number one hits those days," he smiles. He still enjoys the oldies. "The school holidays were spent at my mother's brother's place. And I still remember how we were asked to finish everything before 7.30 p.m. on Wednesdays to listen to the Bana sermon broadcast over the radio. It was a must," he reminisces.

Newton studied at Maha Bodhi upto O/Ls and then entered the Stafford College, Colombo for his A/Ls. Young Newton was a man of organisation, and was a versatile character with many capabilities of marketing management, administration along with art and culture.

His very first appointment was as a clerical officer in the Marketing Division of E.B.Creasy and Company. He was just 19 years then. His second appointment was as a Marketing Assistant at the National Milk Board.

"My stay at the Milk Board was memorable as I met 'her' there," he smiles. Nalini too smiles joining the conversation. "There was an Industrial Exhibition organised by the government in 1964. So all the government institutions took part in it.

It went on for about a month. So we had to recruit temporary hands to assist in the stall. for that we advertised in the paper and many school leavers applied for it," he recalls. "We were just out of school, and applied for fun," butts in Nalini. Newton and Nalini soon became good friends. "We never expressed verbally 'I love you'. But both knew we were for each other," says Newton.

Malwattage Nalini Peiris was born on September 22 in 1944 to Winifred Marcus Peiris, a Civil Servant and Daisy Cathlene Dias Jayasinghe. Nalini was the second of eight siblings. "I studied at Harishchandra Vidyalaya, Kurana and Gothami Balika, Colombo upto O/Ls. Actress Leiticia Boteju was my father's sister. I did sports and was the house captain," she recalls.

Meanwhile, Newton heard the announcement to take Relief Announcers for Radio Ceylon. When he was about 12 or 13 years he had taken part in an Amateur Singing Programme in the Commercial Service.

A neighbourhood musician who knew the young man's enthusiasm, fetched him to the Radio Ceylon. "After facing a tough recruitment scheme, I was selected and started working both at the Milk Board and the Radio Ceylon.I am a man of targets.

My aim was to build my own house before I got married. I knew I had already met the correct partner who would be my life long companion. Then it was the matter of the place to live.

So I bought a plot of land at Kohuwala in 1967, and started building the place. I always think every young man should have an organisational mind at least to some extent so that it makes life easier. If you start off now one can tread some distance in life," he points out.

He completed his house in 1968. And then gave it on rent for two years. They tied the knot in 1969, and moved to his own house in 1971. "We spent those few years collecting furniture and house equipment. We really planned everything," says Newton. Newton and Nalini were blessed with a daughter, and today with triplet grand children.

"It was shocking news for me to hear that my daughter was pregnant with triplets. But she is the daughter of a man who loves challenges. It was a successful normal delivery," he laughs patting and feeling the heads of his grand children.

Pemasiri Epasinghe, Ranjith Dharmakeerthi and Berty Galahitiyawa were some of the batch mates of Newton in the relief announcement crew at the National Service of Radio Ceylon. Newton left the Milk Board and joined the permanent staff as the full time radio artiste in Radio Ceylon in 1971.

"The golden era of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) was during the Days whenRidgeway Thilakaratne was the Director General of the SLBC. He gave us, the young artistes a free hand to produce novel items to make the radio more listenable.

We started working as a team. Under his administration, I got a great opportunity to play a key role with my counterparts like Berty Galahitiyawa, Premakeerthi de Alwis and Amarabandu Rupasinghe.

That period was memorable. We were given much more responsibilities. New wave of singers of that time such as Victor Ratnayaka, Sananth Nandasiri, Neela and T. M. came to the lime light under his reign at the SLBC." he reminisces.

Life is not a bed of roses through out. In 1978, when Mrs.Bandaranaike lost her Civil Rights, everybody who shone (not necessarily due to political status) in the government sector under the SLFP period were slapped and fired out under many unlawful reasons.

Newton and his team were also among them. Victimised! His punishment transfer was to Anuradhapura- 'Raja Rata' Service. After six months he was transferred back to Colombo.

He then was interdicted under false allegations. Newton was not at all shaken. Along with a friend of his he started a lucrative business where he earned many times more than at the SLBC.

And that was Newton. "From 1977 to 1984, I spent my 'Erashtaka' period like that. I really appreciate those who sent me home as I rose up financially during this period," he laughs. Along with Livi Wijemanna's arrival to the Chairman's post at the SLBC, the dark chapter of Newton faded away. The doors of the radio station were again opened for him.

Newton became a Programme Organiser handling interviews, doing presentations, commentaries and news reader. He was a all rounder. So in 1996, Newton sat in the seat as the Additional Director General of the SLBC.

"If one asks what my greatest achievement is....," he went on. "I would say creating or founding 'Lakhanda Radio' in 1996.

That was just the beginning of the gigantic work of the 'media giant'. In the following year, Newton was appointed as the Chairman of ITN. "Radio comprises only audio and TV is a combination of both the audio and video. So it was not a difficult thing to move from radio to TV as both media have many similarities than differences," he points out.

From 1997 to 2001 he held the post of Chairman at ITN. "When I took over 75 percent of the telecast time in ITN was for canned foreign programmes. I reduced it upto 20 percent by renewing and localising it.

Along with the political changes, Newton had to get out from ITN. "It was from 2001 to 2003. The job of media person is very challenging. No one knows at what moment you have to leave your job. So I knew as it was not the first time I was thrown away from my job," Newton has been a man of enterprise. He knows how to twist his bad luck to his betterment. "I started my own advertising consultant company called 'Manik Media Association'... So financially I was extremely fine," he boasts.

In 2003, Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga took over three Ministries. An Media Ministry also came under her. Newton Guneratne was placed back in the Chairmans seat of ITN and Lakhanda Radio. In 2005, the present President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed him as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation. Since last October Newton has been working as the full time Director of the President's Electronic Media.

"However after years working non stop, I have space to breathe now," he says. "He has been a person who is used to facing challenges all the time. Even now he looks for something. At present, re-construction of the house is his target. He is a person who wants everything to be done neat. He is man who is spick and span. So since the place is under construction, he feels terrible," laughs Nalini.

"During my stay at ITN and SLRC I organised many social welfare programmes. Polonnaruwa and Hambantota drought period and Tsunami were the most memorable occasions. We put up the blood bank building at the Cancer Hospital. Apart from the general work entrusted I was able to take media to the public welfare services. Now quite content and satisfied," he sighs with a pleasing smile.

"He gets angry. That is the main quality I could high light in him. Only I could cool him down. But he is a family man who never failed to fulfil his duties," laughs Nalini. "It was my parents who helped me to mould my character. My father was not a moneyed man but a man with principles.

He used to tell us always to do the right thing and not to take any short cuts in life. I believe in 'Ditta Dhamma Vedaniya Kamma' (Kamma - that will give results for what you do in this birth itself). I was never caught on any single allegation on any corrupt practice.

Hence I'm a strong headed man who can stand on my own feet until my death. I know what I do. I have faced many challenges successfully. When I look back I am very happy," he concludes.

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