Thevis Guruge


Thevis Guruge was a distinguished broadcaster with Radio Ceylon and subsequently the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. He was the first Sinhala Announcer with Radio Ceylon - the oldest radio station in South Asia.

Iconic status

He enjoyed iconic status alongside other announcers of the station, Guruge was one of the early pioneers particularly where the Sinhala service was concerned. Millions tuned into Radio Ceylon. He was the second announcer in Radio Ceylon, who joined in 1949. He retired in 1983.

Chairman of ITN

In the 1980s Thevis Guruge was appointed Competent Authority of ITN in Sri Lanka after it was acquired by the government. Guruge was assassinated in 1989 by the JVP, whose uneducated youth squad had threatened him the week before. As he had not bowed to their threats, this visionary chairman met his demise.

Assassination

On July 5, 1989, he was appointed as the authority for the censorship of the news which was imposed under Guru's emergency. On July 23, 1989, Guruge was killed by the rebels when he was going to a shop in the morning on the bridge at Polhengoda Road in Narahenpita. He was shot with a T-56 assault rifle and five bullets were found in his body. The funeral took place on 25 July 1989 at Borella cemetery.