Draft:Benette Rupasinghe
Bennette Rupasinghe | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sri Lanka |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, editor |
| Years active | 1963–2024 |
| Known for | Investigative journalism, press freedom advocacy |
| Notable work | Contributions to Aththa, Dinamina, Lanka e News, and Mawbima |
| Awards | Lifetime Achievement Award (2025) – Editors' Guild of Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Press Association |
Bennette Rupasinghe is a Sri Lankan journalist whose career spanned over six decades. Known for his fearless reporting and unwavering commitment to press freedom, he has worked at several of Sri Lanka's leading newspapers and online news platforms.
Early career
[edit]Rupasinghe began his journalism career in 1963 under the mentorship of the veteran journalist D. B. Dhanapala. He quickly established himself at the editorial desk of the newspaper Dawasa. In 1964, he and nine other journalists resigned in protest of the paper’s support for the government's controversial Newspaper Act.[1]
Career at Aththa
[edit]In the same year, Rupasinghe joined the newspaper Aththa as a reporter. Over the next thirty years, he became a prominent figure within the paper, working with renowned journalists such as Richard Wijesiri, B. A. Siriwardena, and Sirilal Kodikara. His fearless reporting on corruption gained national attention.
Between 1989 and 1992, Rupasinghe received death threats for his exposés on political misconduct. Petrol bombs were reportedly thrown at his residence, and a fellow reporter was stabbed during this period. Despite these threats, Rupasinghe continued his journalistic work, further enhancing his reputation for courage and resilience.
Work at Lake House and Dinamina
[edit]In 1994, Rupasinghe joined Lake House and took on the role of news editor at the Sinhala-language daily Dinamina. He was later promoted to deputy editor, co-editor, and ultimately editor.
Online journalism and arrest
[edit]After leaving Lake House in 2002, Rupasinghe contributed to publications such as Dinakara and Peraliya. He later became the news editor at the online platform Lanka e News. His reporting during this time focused on corruption and high-profile cases, including the abduction of journalist Poddala Jayantha.[2]
Due to these reports, Rupasinghe was arrested by the government on what were widely believed to be politically motivated charges. His arrest on March 31, 2011, was widely condemned by both local and international press freedom organizations.[3][4] He was later released and cleared of all charges.
Mawbima and retirement
[edit]Rupasinghe’s final major appointment was with Mawbima, published by Ceylon Newspapers. From the paper’s inception, he served as associate editor, later becoming editor, director, and editorial consultant. He retired from journalism in December 2024, after 13 years with Mawbima.
Awards and recognition
[edit]In 2025, Bennette Rupasinghe received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Press Association, recognizing his over sixty years of contribution to journalism and media freedom in the country.[1]
See also
[edit]- Journalism in Sri Lanka
- Freedom of the press in Sri Lanka
- Lanka e News
- Poddala Jayantha
- Five senior journalists to be awarded with Lifetime Achievement Awards – *Sunday Times*, January 05, 2025
- Sri Lanka website editor Bennett Rupasinghe is arrested – *BBC News*, March 31, 2011
- The editor of LankaeNews.com was arrested – *Arab News*, March 31, 2011
- Poddala Jayantha: Latest Journalist victim in Sri Lanka – D.B.S. Jeyaraj
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Five senior journalists to be awarded with Lifetime Achievement Awards at milestone Journalism Awards". The Sunday Times. January 5, 2025.
- ^ D.B.S. Jeyaraj. "Poddala Jayantha: Latest Journalist victim in Sri Lanka". WordPress. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ^ "Sri Lanka website editor Bennett Rupasinghe is arrested". BBC News. March 31, 2011.
- ^ "The editor of LankaeNews.com, was arrested". Arab News. March 31, 2011.