Bandula Padmakumara

He was born on 2 June 1950 in the village of Mapalana, Matara, Sri Lanka. He received his primary education from Rahula College, Matara. Padmakumara completed education from Richmond College, Galle and Ananda College, Colombo. His father Sugathapala Godawatte was a very staunch socialist and a school principal.{{cite web |url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=74100 |title='Mul Pituwa': Bandula Padmakumara: Transcending the norm through |publisher=The Island |accessdate=26 July 2020}} Bandula has a younger brother Kumudu Kusum Kumara who is a retired university lecturer and two older brothers: Prabhath Kumara and Lal Piyasena.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-02 |title=They set out in search of the 'Nimwalalla' |url=https://www.sarasaviya.lk/story/2022/03/03/22643/ඔවුහු-‘නිම්වළල්ල’සොයා-නික්ම-ගියහ |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=සරසවිය}}

He was married to veteran writer Samanmalee Gunasinghe. The couple has one son: Hiru, who currently lives in the United States and one daughter: Muthu, who is an English author.

He died while receiving treatment for a kidney ailment at a private hospital in Colombo, on 24 February 2022, at the age of 71.{{Cite web |title=Veteran journalist Bandula Padmakumara passes away |url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news/80802/veteran-journalist-bandula-padmakumara-passes-away |access-date=2022-02-24 |website=www.adaderana.lk |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-02-24 |title=Veteran journalist Bandula Padmakumara no more |url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2022/02/24/veteran-journalist-bandula-padmakumara-no-more/ |access-date=2022-02-24 |website=Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Sri Lanka - Bandula Padmakumara of 'Mul Pituwa' fame is no more. |url=https://menafn.com/1103758137/Sri-Lanka-Bandula-Padmakumara-of-Mul-Pituwa-fame-is-no-more |access-date=2022-02-24 |website=menafn.com}}

Before entering journalism, Padmakumara collaborated to make the film Nim Walalla becoming the assistant director of the film along with a group of Anandians: Ranjith Lal, Dilman Jayaratne, Gamini Wijetunga, Mahinda Algama, Ranjith Kumara, Premakeerthi de Alwis, Kularatne Ariyawansa, Keerthi Balasuriya and Ratnasiri Rajapaksa and Sunil Madhava Prematilake. The film gained critical reception and screened at several international film festivals. In 1960s, he assisted leading filmmakers Lester James Peries and Tissa Abeysekara to produce films.{{cite web |url=https://www.divaina.com/2016/10/09/feature14.html |title=Milton Jayawardena's Art Commercial Cinema |publisher=Divaina |accessdate=26 July 2020}}

Bandula entered the journalism while writing articles for the 'Eththa' newspaper during his school days. In the 1970s, Padmakumara was involved in the publishing of women's papers such as Sarasi, Rajina, and Kumari, where he was referred to as the "Mal Paththarakaraya" due to being the founder of youth journals in Sri Lanka. Newspapers like Pathipathini, Kumari and Araliya which he started at that time as well as newspapers like Rajina were very successful at that time.{{cite web |url=https://www.divaina.com/2015/03/13/cineart02.html |title=Island Cinema - 'Mul Pituwa' and Bandula |publisher=Aruna |accessdate=26 July 2020}} He is also credited with introducing tabloid journalism to the youth.{{cite web |url=http://www.nethgossip.lk/article/30676 |title=Bandula Padmakumara who brought the newspaper to television, is back among the newspapers ....! |date=5 June 2018 |publisher=Neth Gossip |accessdate=26 July 2020}} He has been working on it since the early 70s by launching film newspaper magazines such as Sameepa Roopa, Geetha. He also contributed to the success of the popular newspaper, Lankadeepa in 1991. He was the founder of the free media movement in Sri Lanka. In 1990s, he founded the popular newspaper Lakbima. He was the editor of the Kumari newspaper published on May 9, 1979.{{cite web |url=http://www.aruna.lk/මල්-පත්තර-පල්-වුණේ-ඇය/ |title='මල්' පත්තර 'පල්' වුණේ ඇයි? |publisher=Aruna |accessdate=26 July 2020}} He was a close friend of late Vijaya Kumaratunga in last five years of his life before assassination.{{cite web |url=https://aanduwa.lk/special/item/4996-2019-02-16-06-41-28 |title=The political game Chandrika played with the JVP due to Vijaya's popularity - Senior journalist Bandula Padmakumara reveals to the government|publisher=Aanduwa |accessdate=26 July 2020}}

A collection of editorials written by Bandula for the Sarasi Cinema newspaper was published in 1995 with the title 'Cinema Vandanawaka Satahan'. In early 2001, he worked as the director editorial of Lake House. In 2002, Padmakumara presented his concept of formal re-recording of the national anthem to be undertaken for 2003 Independence celebration as the second Janasetha Project of Silumina. The chorus was led by Pandit Dr. W. D. Amaradeva and Visharada Nanda Malini and with music composed by Rohana Weerasinghe.{{cite web |url=http://www.asiantribune.com/archive/all/12/19?page=9 |title=Formal re-recording of National Anthem to be undertaken |publisher=Asian Tribune |accessdate=26 July 2020}}

In July 2003, he started the popular newspaper program Mul Pituwa under the guidance of Jeewaka Edirisinghe and sponsorship of Thilanga Sumathipala. He used to wake up at 2.00 am and browse through all the newspapers to summarize the news and presented them in detail. The programs aired on every morning at 6.30 on Swarnavahini. During its airing, Mul Pituwa became the highest rated program in the morning hours and laid the foundation for other newspaper programs in Sri Lanka.{{cite web |url=https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/daily-mirror-sri-lanka/20130121/283038346906994 |title=Mul Pituwa turns Ten |publisher=Daily Mirror |accessdate=26 July 2020}} He presented the program for 12 consecutive years until his removal in 2015. The program is considered as one of the most prestigious and sustainable programs in the history of Sri Lankan television. He successfully aired its 1000th program on 30 March 2006.{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060326/tv/9.html | title='Mul Pituwa' reaches milestone | publisher=Sunday Times | accessdate=18 August 2019}}

On 31 May 2005, he complained to police by stating that the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MP, Wimal Weerawansa spread hatred among public by portraying a negative image of journalists as he feared for his life due to that.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sinhala/news/story/2005/05/printable/050531_bandula.shtml |title=JVP speeches create hatred - say journalists |publisher=BBC Sinhala |accessdate=26 July 2020}} In 2007, an international group sent death threats to several prominent Sri Lankan journalists including Sunanda Deshapriya, Bandula Padmakumara, Lasantha Wickrematunge, and Victor Ivan through a website, labeling the group “traitors”.{{cite web |url=https://ifex.org/journalists-free-expression-worker-labelled-traitors-issued-death-threats/ |title=Journalists, free expression worker labelled "traitors", issued death threats |date=18 January 2007 |publisher=International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) |accessdate=26 July 2020}}

In 2007, Padmakumara became the Executive Chairman of Lake House. During his period, he offered a daily three-minute concentrated summary of current news to Dialog and Mobitel subscribers. During his tenure, salary increments were given to all employees as well as earned Rs. 663 million by selling national newspapers and Rs. 2,270 million through advertisements.{{cite web |url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2012/01/03/news20.asp|title=We provide a commendable national service |work=Daily News |accessdate=26 July 2020}} He also introduced the CTT technology to the Lake House and received Cabinet approval to purchase a new printing machine that could print 60 colour pages simultaneously, worth Rs. 750 million.{{cite web |url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2008/03/20/news20.asp|title=Facilities at Lake House to be upgraded |work=Daily News |accessdate=26 July 2020}} In 2012, he published the newspaper Sithmina.

In January 2015, Padmakumara was removed from Swarnavahini due to political pressure from the Maithreepala Sirisena government.{{cite web |url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/bandula-removed-from-swarnavahinis-mul-pituwa/ |title=Bandula Removed From Swarnavahini's Mul Pituwa |date=19 January 2015 |publisher=Colombo Telegraph |accessdate=26 July 2020}} However, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe revealed that, there is no interference of the government to sack Padmakumara from Swarnavahini.{{cite web |url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/ranil-blames-swarnavahini-administration-for-sacking-bandula/ |title=Ranil Blames Swarnavahini Administration For Sacking Bandula |date=22 January 2015 |publisher=Colombo Telegraph |accessdate=26 July 2020}} Earlier, he did not make any comment regarding his removal from the channel.{{cite web |url=http://archives.dinamina.lk/2015/01/21/_art.asp?fn=n1501214 |title=The government has nothing to do with removing Bandula Padmakumara from Swarnavahini's 'Home' program |publisher=Dinamina |accessdate=26 July 2020}} However, on 24 November 2015, he filed a case with the Colombo commercial high court against Swarnavahini, for removing him from the program Mul Pituwa without prior notice.{{cite web |url=http://telo.org/?p=135517 |title=Bandula Padmakumara seeks Rs. 200 million from Swarnavahini! |publisher=TELO |accessdate=26 July 2020}} He demanded creative rights of the program as well as Rs 200 million as compensation.{{cite web |url=http://www.asianmirror.lk/news/item/13176-bandula-padmakumara-demands-damages-from-swarnavahini |title=Bandula Padmakumara Demands Damages From Swarnavahini |publisher=Asian Mirror |accessdate=26 July 2020}}

In 2016, he started his own publishing company, "Print Book". He published two magazines – Adaraneeya Ammi and Business Mantra.{{cite web |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2016/06/14/features/84507 |title=Mothered Mantra |work=Daily News |accessdate=26 July 2020}} In 2018, "Print Book" launched new magazine Sebe. The new newspaper was made in black and white according to the previous format of Ravaya newspaper.{{cite web |url=https://newstube.lk/news/2314-sebe-bandula |title='Sebe': Bandula 'From Tabloid Art to National Stream' |publisher=News Tube |accessdate=26 July 2020}} In 2017, he joined Asian Mirror where he returned to the presentation and analysis of newspaper cartoons with the new segment called Sarawita.{{cite web |url=http://www.asianmirror.lk/news/item/21690-bandula-padmakumara-returns-best-cartoons-of-the-week-with-sarawita-video |title=Bandula Padmakumara Returns: Best Cartoons Of The Week With "Sarawita" |publisher=Asian Mirror |accessdate=26 July 2020}}

He has published several books related to Sri Lankan politics and journalism. On 14 September 2008, the book titled Mul Pituwata Gena Cartoon was launched by Padmakumara. The book features newspaper cartoons published from January to June, 2008 in the national newspapers drawn by 19 leading cartoonists.{{cite web |url=http://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2008/09/14/new19.asp |title=Politicians should take cartoons in good spirit |publisher=Sunday Observer |accessdate=26 July 2020}}

• Loku Aiyalage Madya Nidahasa {{cite web |url=https://www.sarasavi.lk/Book/Loku-Aiyalage-Madya-Nidahasa-9559585711 |title=Loku Aiyalage Madya Nidahasa by Bandula Padmakumara |publisher=Sarasavi Bookshop (pvt) Ltd. |accessdate=26 July 2020}}
• Ranil Wickramasinghe Wage Newei Mama Gambanta {{cite web |url=https://www.sarasavi.lk/Author/BANDULA%20PADMAKUMARA/1 |title=RANIL WICKRAMASINGHE WAGE NEWEI MAMA GEMBANTA AD by BANDULA PADMAKUMARA |publisher=Sarasavi Bookshop (pvt) Ltd. |accessdate=26 July 2020}}

On 16 March 2013, a Quadrangular Elle Championship was played for the Bandula Padmakumara Challenge Trophy. Matches were held at the Nawaloka Grounds in Welisara. The tournament was organized for the 30th Anniversary Celebrations of the “Kreeda magazine”, a publication of Lake House.{{cite web |url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2013/03/18/spo02.asp |title=Fathima SC win Bandula Padmakumara Challenge Trophy |work=Daily News |accessdate=26 July 2020}}

{{Awards table}}

|-

|| 2004 ||| Mul Pituwa || Jury Award{{cite web|title=Sumathi Award winners in each year|url=http://sumathiawards.lk/sumathi-awards-winners.php|website=www.sumathiawards.lk}}|| {{won}}

{{End}}

{{Awards table}}

|-

|| 2012 ||| Loka Sithiyama || Merit Award{{cite web|title=Raigam Tele'es 2011 award winners|url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2011/05/26/_art.asp?fn=sa11052613&pn=20|publisher=Sarasaviya}}|| {{won}}

{{End}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://siyathatv.lk/programs/videos/siyatha-mul-pituwa Siyatha Mul Pituwa]
• [https://www.mfa.gov.lk/si/3350-massive-demos-against-geneva-resolution/ Massive demos against Geneva resolution]
• [https://srilankamirror.com/news/11334-new-posts-for-anura-bandula New posts for Anura & Bandula?]
• [https://english.gossiplankanews.com/2015/04/in-support-to-gotas-protest-bandula.html In support to Gota’s protest Bandula Padmakumara also arrived]
• [http://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2010/06/27/spe04.asp A pen-sketch of the President by Muthu]
• [https://english.gossiplankanews.com/2016/11/bandula-blind-to-president-at.html?m=1 Bandula blind to President at exhibition of Camillus!]
• [http://www.nab.org/xert/Marcomm/Newsletters/Pulse/2010/050310/shreefm.html Shree FM Presents 2010 NAB International Broadcasting Excellence Award to President of Sri Lanka]
• [http://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2010/06/27/spo05.asp School cricket moving]
• [https://lankanewsweb.net/sinhala/gossip/item/13381-2018-02-13-00-44-59 බන්දුල පද්මකුමාර 'ලුණු දෙහි' හදයි]
• [http://www.lankadeepa.lk/sunday/diyatha_news/භීෂණ-සමයේ-පත්තරකාරයකුගේ-අත්දැකීම්/48-530400 භීෂණ සමයේ පත්තරකාරයකුගේ අත්දැකීම්]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Padmakumara, Bandula}}

Category:1950 births

Category:2022 deaths

Category:Sri Lankan Buddhists

Category:Sri Lankan journalists

Category:Sri Lankan television presenters

Category:Alumni of Richmond College, Galle