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D.R. Wijewardene: Father of Journalism in Sri Lanka

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D.R. Wijewardene: Father of Journalism in Sri Lanka D.R. Wijewardene: Father of journalism in Sri Lanka Don Richard Wijewardene (1886-1950), the greatest newspaper personality was the Thinakaran Varamanjari. In addition to founder chairman of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL), populary these newspapers, several weekly known as Lake House.The largest media house in the country, it publishes major periodicals are also published by Sinhala, English and Tamil daily and weekly newspapers. D. R. Wijewardene made his ANCL today. formal entry into politics in 1931 when he was elected Secretary of the Ceylon National Association. He agitated for constitutional reform and self rule and was an active collaborator in the fight for Sri Lanka’s independence from British rule. His 131 birth anniversary falls on February 23, 2017. 1917: D. R. became a joint Secretary of the Ceylon Reform League with W. A. de Silva. ‘Arcadia’, one of his bungalows at Diyathalawa 1926: He established the Associated Parents: Muhandiram Don Philip Wijewardene Newspaper of Ceylon Limited (ANCL) and Helena Wijewardene populary known as Lake House, the foremost newspaper group in Sri Lanka. Another 1886 February 23: Don Richard leading newspaper group upto that time, Wijewardene was the third child of seven the Times of Ceylon which catered to the sons and two daughters born to Muhandiram interest of British Tudugala Don Philip Wijewardene planters and D.R. Wijewardene (a merchant of Sedawatta) and Helena and his wife with other foreigners, two of their Wijewardene. His father passed away when D. R. Wijewardene and his wife being received did not reflect the grandchildern Don Richard was very young and he was by the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Ramsay MacDonald at a national thinking or raised by his mother. reception in 1930 ethos of an era He received his primary education where all patriotic at the Sedawatta school and his Sri Lankans were secondary education at S.Thomas’ agitating or working College, Mt. Lavinia. towards achieving freedom. 1912: Studied law at Cambridge University, 1918: He took over The Great Britain and became Ceylonese and rebaptised it 1950 June 13: D.R. Wijewardene, the a Barrister at the Inner as Ceylon Daily News press baron passed away two years after Temple in London, and (CDN). The first issue the realising of his cherished dream of embarked on a legal career, of the CDN, published freedom for the nation. before returning to on January 3, contains the island. a special message by Sri Ponnambalam Arunachalam, one of D. R. Wijewardene his close friends. when he was practising at the Bar 1914: D.R. (as he was popularly called) took steps towards building his newspaper industry, by acquiring the Dinamina, a 1923: D.R. acquired newspaper pioneered by The Observer and journalist H.S. Perera. Commercial Advertiser (which made its first 1915: D.R. Wjewardene The wedding photograph of D.R. Wijewardene and appearance on February 4, married Ruby Meedeniya, his bride Ruby Meediniya 1834) from an European D.R. Wijewardene second daughter of John at the time he company. He eventually acquired the Henry Meedeniya, a Rate Mahattaya. owned seven Ceylon Observer He had two sons and three daughters. newspapers - His grandson Ranil Wickremesinghe is the Dinamina, Silumina, Ceylon Daily News, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. The Observer, Sunday Observer, 1915: He became the Lieutenant in the Thinakaran,Sunday Thinakaran and Ceylon Light Infantry when the Sinhala and Muslim riots broke out around that time. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL) Lake House in Fort today Source and pictures: The life and times of D.R. Wijewardene, Graphic: Mahil Wijesinghe.
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