Suresh Perera: journalist of the common man

Nearly ten years ago when I first stepped into the Island editorial, it was Suresh Perera who warmly greeted me and directed me to the offices of the Sunday Island’s Chief Editor, Mr. Manik de Silva. Suresh was a complete stranger to me then. Over the years, our friendship was cemented transcending the years between us.

The News Editor of Sunday Island that Suresh was, he wrote and spoke impeccable English. He spoke beautiful Sinhala too, winning the hearts of common folk. A heavy weight in journalism, Suresh was well versed not only in political and current affairs, but in literature, cinema and music. He and I would have long chats about these subjects in which we shared a mutual love. He would quote poets, dramatists and his witty repartee was always amusing.

An excellent story teller, he would regale his colleagues with journalistic anecdotes from yesteryear. Suresh was witty and had a fine sense of humour. Together with our colleague Norman Palihawadana (from our sister paper Divaina) reputed for his mischief and pranks, we would often have a good laugh. A man of many parts, he could be a serious no-nonsense journalist, an avid story teller to the next generation of journalists and a wise counselor too.

The early bird he was, Suresh would be pecking at his computer and was the first sight of anybody who would walk into the office as he occupied the very first desk near the entrance. Although a veteran journalist with a wealth of experience, he never threw his weight around, instead he would mentor many and inspire fellow journalists with his finely crafted copy. When foreign visiting journalists on exchange programmes were assigned to the Sunday Island, Suresh became their custodian. In his capable and trustworthy hands, they would be ensured of a productive tour enabling insights to journalism of a developing nation.

He was gentle and he was a gentleman too. He would never raise his voice nor use harsh words at anyone. He was always tactful in people-management. He lived in the hearts of common people. Whenever an office driver or an office assistant was in a personal crisis it was to Suresh they would run to first. A man with a large heart, he never said no to any of them.

A few years ago, Suresh helped one of them realize the dream of owning his own house and took immense joy watching the young family of four happily settling in their new home. He would often help those in need with provisions with the help of his friends and colleagues.

A loving and a dutiful father, Suresh took pride in the achievements of his only daughter Ahinsa- the apple of his eye. He would beam with fatherly pride as he shared her academic excellence with us. Suresh never failed to inquire after our own families and young children.

Truly a voice for the voiceless, Suresh moved his pen supporting social justice. On the threshold of his 60^th year, he was taken away from his family and all of us by the COVID pandemic. When I met him two weeks before his death and enjoyed our customary chat, I had no inkling that it would be my last memory of him.

Good bye my friend, I will miss you and will celebrate you in Frank Sinatra’s lines- ‘the record shows I took the blows, and did it my way, yes it was my way..”

Randima Attygalle