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by Prof Sunanda Mahendra

The Sudden death of the young Sinhala journalist Kithsiri Nimalshantha, 46, came like a thunderbolt from the blues leaving a void in the field of journalism. Those of us who associated with him knew the sensitivity and creativity in him and the various types of innovations introduced by him to Sinhala newspapers. Being a good human being, who will stand for correct judgment and investigations, which is quite rare in the field of Sinhala journalism, Nimalshantha was seen clamouring for correct values and ethics within grave limitation that one has to perform one's duties.

Though he was writing poems and lyrics as a schoolboy, he entered the field of journalism via his own weekly journal 'Irida'. I remember a certain rainy day when he came to our place by a three-wheeler. He told me that he is in need of a regular Sinhala column for his weekly paper, basically on culture and arts. We discussed at length as to the format and other necessities, I found a young man bubbling with new ideas yearning to produce something invaluable to the reader. His journal was received well by the general reader as well as opinion makers of varying nature. With the success of this weekly paper, he had the chance to elevate himself to a higher pedestal, becoming a features editor of a daily paper, Divaina. He toiled hard to bring out a classic Sinhala literary supplement on Wednesdays. He got the scholars to contribute various types of literary articles that could be preserved for posterity. My own teacher Magam Tennakone was invited to write his reminiscences weekly. My teacher who was left abandoned for a long time, commenced writing with a new spirit which attracted the attention of all types of readers, as the series contained sparkling new revelations in the field of literature, anthropology, history, folklore, religion and politics. The series was titled as Divi sayuren diya dotak (a cupped handful of water from the ocean of life). Magam Tennakoon once again came to the limelight, and created a new stance in biographical writings. The printed articles, thanks to Nimalshantha, were collected and came in the form of two volumes. Nimalshantha, made a special study into all forms of column writings culminating in the publishing of a research book titled Sinhala tiru rachanawe vikashanaya (The evolution of Sinhala column writings). This was an intensive in-depth study into the development of Sinhala columns, inclusive of the much-famed column Vagatuga by Sri Chandrarathna Manavasinghe. We had the opportunity of recommending this as a supplementary reader for those who offer Mass Communication and media studies at the higher examination level. Nimalshantha, to his credit has inspired quite a number of young journalists to innovate new writings. The much discussed Manige Tiruwa, too is a result of the ideology I remember the day when Nimalshantha addressed the audience on the launching day of Manige Tiruwa, at the Jayewardene Centre in Colombo. Nimalshantha was very well prepared and had resourceful information at his fingertips.

The soft spoken, good mannered Nimalshantha knew the theoretical as well as practical aspects of journalism than most of his other colleagues. He was always against the pseudo communication trends, which he once told me as disastrous elements in the media structure. He said that in our country the concept of free media policy is grossly misunderstood, to the point that even filth is taken seriously. He never allowed his periodicals and newspapers to be swayed by these pseudo waves. A group of reporters once brought a news item defaming a certain person of the country. Kithsiri told them, "I know my ethics and I cannot carry this news item for it is going to insult and humiliate a good human being."

Saying that he had put the news item into the wastepaper basket with a grave smile, which we always remember. As Albert Schweitzer said, "Sometimes our light goes out, but it is blown again into flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light." 

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