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Benette Rupasinghe
Benette Rupasinghe is a veteran Sri Lankan Journalist and an award winning newspaper editor.
| Benette Rupasinghe | |
|---|---|
| Born | 09 October 1943 |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Occupation(s) | Newspaper Journalist, Editor, Director |
Bennette Rupasinghe: A Six-Decade Journey in Sri Lankan Journalism
Bennette Rupasinghe entered the newsroom in 1963 under the tutelage of the legendary D. B. Dhanapala. Within a year he had mastered the craft of reporting and become a valued member of the Dawasa editorial desk. In 1964, however, Rupasinghe and nine colleagues resigned in protest over the paper’s support for the government’s controversial Newspaper Act.
That same year he joined Aththa as a reporter—beginning what would become a three-decade run alongside respected journalists Richard Wijesiri, B. A. Siriwardena, and Sirilal Kodikara. His fearless corruption exposés earned widespread admiration, but also exacted a price: between 1989 and 1992 he received repeated death threats, petrol bombs were hurled at his home, and a fellow reporter was stabbed in retaliation for the paper’s reporting. Undeterred, Rupasinghe pressed on, solidifying his reputation as one of the country’s most courageous journalists.
In 1994 Rupasinghe moved to Lake House, beginning at Dinamina as news editor and steadily advancing to deputy editor, co-editor, and finally editor.
After leaving Lake House in 2002 Rupasinghe wrote for Dinakara and Peraliya before plunging into online journalism as news editor of Lanka e News. His fearless reporting—especially on high-level corruption and the abduction of fellow journalist Poddala Jayantha[4]—led the regime of the day to arrest him on fabricated charges[2][3]. The move triggered street protests, editorials of outrage, and interventions from local and international press-freedom groups. Ultimately he was freed and fully exonerated, his return to the newsroom burnishing his reputation as a journalist who would not be silenced.
His next chapter began with the launch of Mawbima (Ceylon Newspapers), where he served for 13 years as associate editor, editor, director, and consultant, retiring in December 2024.
In recognition of his more than 60 years of service, Bennette Rupasinghe received the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award[1] from the Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Press Association.
Notes
[edit]- Five senior journalists to be awarded with Lifetime Achievement Awards at milestone Journalism 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 - Wordpress by D.B.S. Jeyaraj