Remembering Silawimala
 Three months have gone by since the demise of our good hearted
Sinhala journalist lyricist, broadcaster and poet Cyril A Seelawimala.
His wife Anula Perera in collaboration with a group of well wishers and
close associates planned to bring out an anthology of essays in his
honour. This compilation titled as Mataka Semarum is edited by a young
editor Lalith Priyankara and published by Lalith Athulatmudali
Foundation (2011).
As believed by many literati, a person's contribution is perceived by
what he leaves as literary contributions during his span of life.
Seelawimala, according to a number of contributors, had been a
multi-faceted sensitive artiste who had faced several challenges that
had confronted him over the years.
A special mention has to be made on the contribution of the late
Wimal Abeysundara who states that the scholarship Seelawimala obtained
via the oriental seats of learning, especially as tutored by one leading
scholar Venerable Meedeniye Wimalananda Thera, had been the live spirit
that had kindled in his career in journalism.
Abeysundara categorically states that Silawimala was one of the most
fitting professionals in the print medium who knew the art of writing to
suit the scholar as well as the common reader. Having left Sandalankawa
shastrodaya pirivena, Seelawimala had been engaged as a deputy editor of
the weekly Sinhala newspaper Peramuna.
That had been the starting point in his career as a journalist. But
as he was also exposed to lyric writing and poetic creations he managed
to enter the world of cinema and broadcasting which groomed him to
overwork in several media channels. He was also known to have pioneered
local film journalism, a field which was selected by a few writers.
 The climax of his journalist career was seen with his entry into the
Davasa group of newspaper where he had the added chance to being groomed
under such veterans as D B Dhanapala, David Karunaratne and Wimalendra
Waturegama.
This may have been a major turning point in his life with the closure
of the Davasa group he had to face a new challenge which he had faced
boldly. He was not jobless, as the local cine industry was in need of
screenplay writers as well as lyric writers.
Silawimala was skilled in both fields. One of the finest and
significant contributions of his skills are shown in the success of the
film Ajatasattu. It was an attempt which exhibited his skill not only in
creativity, but also in research and investigation.
As I knew him personally I saw him discussing matters pertaining to
the religious and historical events linked to the Ajatasastha legend,
which lurks in folklore and factual history of India. To his credit he
had written more than 1000 lyrics. Lalith Priyankara says they cannot
find hidden sources. Priyankara had already selected and compiled a few
in Sansun Ruwan, a collection of his lyrics.
According to the Venerable Professor Pategama Gnanissara Thera,
Silawimala had been a pioneer in the classical tradition of lyric
writing. The venerable scholar gives some examples in his short but
significant essay which had been published as Silawimala reached the
ripe age of 80 in 2010.
Another unforgettable essay about the investigative skills of
Silawimala comes from a former university don Saratchandra Jayakody.
According to Jayakody, the investigator Silawimala had the knack for
selecting a general topic and events and transfer the same into a unique
feature which will remain for all times.
Today we teach journalism and communication at university level of
education. But we find that a journalist devoid of knowledge in the use
of right language and transform his materials to suit the mass reader is
a failure in his function.
Then how come a Silawimala? He had been an avid reader, interpreter
and an analyst. Jayakody says that Silawimala had been instrumental in
adding some of the new features to his paper Riviresa as he assumed
duties as its chief editor.
It looks as if the veteran journalist D B Dhanapala had great faith
and honour bestowed on Silawimala to the point that he had remarked:
"Silawimala is one of the right kind of person I need to foster any
ideology of journalism." Once it is said that the BBC first Director
General had communicated that "the treasure trove of a media person is
what he has contributed to his medium." So Silawimala is one such person
who had left a treasure trove.
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