Ajith leaves his pen behind

* Editor - The Island * Editor - Sunday Observer * Editor - Evening Observer * Managing Editor - English Publications of ANCL * Editor - Friday

One of the greatest Editors of Daily News, late Mervyn de Silva described him as the best English journalist in Sri Lanka. To his readers he was Minerva, Aravinda, A.S and plain and simple Ajith Samaranayake. Ajith Samaranayake painted with words and those paintings gave his readers and us thoughts, life and wisdom.

Ajith was one of my heroes at Trinity College in Kandy. I followed Ajith to journalism though he discouraged me on many occasions.

He said: "We cannot do journalism coming all the way from Kandy. Journalists don't get paid well in Sri Lanka".

But Ajith continued to be a journalist until his untimely death yesterday. He did not care where he sat or how he went home or what position he held because to his readers and to us he was Ajith Samaranayake.

Students at Trinity listened to Ajith's debating skills both in English and Sinhala with amazement. He added colour to the college magazine.

In the late seventies we saw his by line in the Sunday Observer and became equally proud of him. I still remember the colour pieces he wrote about Lester's Madol Duwa and Jinna and about an Army passing out parade where 2nd Lt Mendaka Samarasinghe received the Sword of Honour.

That was way back in 1980. It was only last week in Trincomalee Mendaka (now Major General) and I discussed about Ajith's brilliance and his writings. Ajith could write anything and everything from art, culture, cinema, politics, ethnic issue, editorials, analysis, news, tributes and news features. He was one of the best lobby correspondents.

He was the complete journalist we had. We will miss him from today. We were roommates down Sri Sumangala Mawatha in Ratmalana. That was the time Ajith moved from The Sunday Observer to The Island.

But, it was not easy for late Upali Wijewardene to convince Ajith to join The Island. It had to be done in style and Vijitha Yapa and Upali Wijewardene met him at the only five star hotel at the time The Intercontinental to make him the offer.

While many talented journalists and writers flew in search of greener pastures , Ajith Samaranayake stayed back in Sri Lanka. He did not show much interest even to travel out of the country.

I remember Ajith telling me how he finally agreed to travel abroad after refusing 12 offers. We had our differences, our own views. But to me he was the Great Ajith Samaranayake though he always looked the other side when I referred to him as the Great Ajith Samaranayake.

Ajith, write to us from heaven, your Sunday Essays, your Centrepieces and those brilliant Editorials.

Bandula Jayasekara