Sumana Nellampitiya

Sumana Nellampitiya (23 May 1944 – 8 August 2024) was a Sri Lankan broadcaster, journalist, radio announcer and television presenter. She was widely acknowledged as Sri Lanka's first television news anchor as well as Sri Lanka's first female television news anchor.[1] She was hailed as a revered figure in the field of journalism and played an important role in cementing a legacy on Sri Lankan media landscape.[2]

Biography

Sumana was born in Colombo, on 23 May 1944. Sumana's talent was spotted during her schooling days.[3] She pursued her primary and secondary education at three different schools namely; Nugegoda Mixed School, Sujatha Vidyalaya Nugegoda, and Gotami Balika Vidyalaya.[4][3]

Career

She initially plied her trade as an Air Force officer by joining the Sri Lanka Air Force.[2] In November 1967, she joined the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation as a relief announcer.[5][3] She also made a smooth transition from radio to television. She joined the Rupavahini Corporation in 1982 as its first Sinhalese presenter.[6] During her stint at the Rupavahini Corporation, she revealed the experience of having faced the wrath of the protestors during the critical juncture of India-Sri Lanka bilateral relations, when Indo-Sri Lanka Accord was signed to mitigate potential diplomatic standoff which was expected to escalate during the advent of the Sri Lanka Civil War.[6] She and her team members were booed and attacked by mob during the historic occasion of Indo-Sri Lanka Accord.[6]

Within a short period of time, she emerged as a household name in Sri Lanka after venturing into the role of a television news anchor. It was during her tenure, Sri Lankan media had undergone a transformation in visual media.[3] She grabbed the attention of the general public by conducting programmes Pibidena Ga'yaka Parapura, Forens Vasana 7, and Ovalteen Pana Podi.[3] She also honed skills in programme production, presenting, scriptwriting and editing, besides her primary role as an announcer during her illustrious career.[5]

Death

She died on 8 August 2024 at the age of 80 due to age-related illness.[7][8]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Pioneering Sri Lankan TV anchor Sumana Nellampitiya passes away at 80". Latest in the News Sphere | The Morning. 2024-08-08. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  2. ^ a b "Sri Lanka's first TV news presenter Sumana Nellampitiya passes away". Hiru News. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Broadcasting Legend Sumana Nellampitiya Dies". english.newsfirst.lk. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  4. ^ "Sri Lankan Broadcasting Legend Sumana Nellampitiya Passes Away at 80". asianmirror.lk. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  5. ^ a b "Sri Lanka's first female TV presenter no more". Times Online. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  6. ^ a b c "HEARTBEATS OF WOMEN IN ART - Life | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  7. ^ "Veteran journalist Sumana Nellampitiya passes away at 80". 2024-08-08. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  8. ^ Today, Ceylon (2024-08-08). "First female news anchor passes away". Ceylon Today. Retrieved 2024-12-08.