Hema Nalin Karunaratne
{{short description|Sri Lankan journalist and television presenter}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Hema Nalin Karunaratne
| native_name = හේමනලීන් කරුණාරත්න
| other_names =
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| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1962|08|27}}
| birth_name = Hema Nalin Karunaratne
| birth_place = Wadduwa, Sri Lanka
| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|06|05|1962|08|27|df=y}}
| death_place = Colombo, Sri Lanka
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| nationality = Sri Lankan
| education = Royal College, Colombo
| years_active = 1983–2018
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| occupation = Journalist, media director, TV presenter, scriptwriter, researcher, program production manager
}}
Hema Nalin Karunaratne ({{langx|si|හේම නලීන් කරුණාරත්න}}; 27 August 1962 – 5 June 2018) was a Sri Lankan journalist and television presenter. He is considered as an iconic figure of Sri Lankan media,{{cite web | url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2018/06/06/local/153105/tv-personality-hema-nalin-karunaratne-found-dead | title=TV personality Hema Nalin Karunaratne found dead | work=Daily News | access-date=11 June 2018}} having inspired many generations of media personalities.{{cite web|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2018/06/veteran-journalist-hema-nalin-karunaratne-dies-aged-56/|title=Veteran journalist Hema Nalin Karunaratne dies aged 56|publisher=News First|access-date=6 June 2018}} Across his career, Karunaratne worked in numerous areas, including direction, script writing, research, program production management, television presentation, and as a compere. He was also the owner of the Heritage TV channel on Dialog TV.{{cite web | url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2018/06/05/popular-television-presenter-hema-nalin-karunaratne-passed-away/ | title=Popular television presenter Hema Nalin Karunaratne passed away | publisher=The Sunday Leader | access-date=11 June 2018}}{{cite web | url=http://www.ft.lk/entertainment-sectors/tackling-piracy-with-new-streaming-channel-for-local-shows/10405-474925 | title=Tackling piracy with new streaming channel for local shows | publisher=Daily FT | access-date=11 June 2018}}
Personal life
Karunaratne was born on 27 August 1962 in Wadduwa, Colombo. His father, G.B.C. Karunaratne, was an electrical engineer and his mother, E.L. Perera, was a teacher. He also had an older brother, Jeewath Karunaratne. Karunaratne received his primary education at St. Mary's College in Mathugama{{cite web|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2007/11/21/art03.asp|title=Presenter who touched many hearts|work=Daily News|access-date=9 June 2018}} and completed his secondary education at Royal College, Colombo.
Karunaratne was married to Iresha Karunaratne, a sociologist.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AK9lr9T_O6EC&dq=Dr.+Iresha+Karunaratne%27s+husband&pg=PR7|title=Teaching of English: A Sociological Study|last=Karunaratne|first=Iresha|year=2009|publisher=APH |isbn=9788131304600}} His daughters attend school in Colombo.
Career
From a young age, Karunaratne was passionate about working in television. He was exposed to television work by his aunt on his mother's side, Praba Ranatunge, who was the first female newsreader for the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. His first job in the industry began on 1 February 1983, when he started working at the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation as a trainee producer. In July 1983, Karunaratne gave his first news report about a bomb blast.
As a compere, Karunaratne first worked on Sandesha Kavya and then later the children's programme, Mang Podi Kale. After working for 17 years at the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, he joined Swarnavahini in June 2000 as a creative director. Karunaratne was responsible for the creation of the Swarnavahini motto, "Sri Lanka's Pride" (Sri Lankiya Abimanaya). He left Swarnavahini in 2008 to join the documentary broadcaster Heritage TV. At Heritage TV, Karunaratne worked on programs covering culture and nature.{{Cite web|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2009/06/09/fea23.asp|title=Features Online edition of Daily News - Lakehouse Newspapers|website=archives.dailynews.lk|access-date=2018-06-12}}
Karunaratne hosted notable programmes like 9.05, Hathata Hithata Hadawathata, Hapan Padura, Mang Podi Kale, Prathiba, Jeewithaya Lassanai teledrama, Sundara Senasurada, Hansa Wila, Maha Sinhale Wansa Kathawa, Dutu Nodutu, Perawadana, and Loke Wate.{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/000702/tv.html | title='9.05' on Swarnavahini with Nalin | publisher=The Sunday Times | access-date=11 June 2018}}
Death
On 5 June 2018, Karunaratne died at age 55 from a cerebral haemorrhage. He died at his residence in Colombo, Sri Lanka.{{cite web | url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=47917 | title=Hema Nalin Karunaratne's cause of death revealed | publisher=Ada Derana | access-date=6 June 2018}} His body was found the next day and the cause of death was determined to be an intra-ventricular hemorrhage due to ruptured blood vessels in the brain.{{cite web | url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=47917 | title=Hema Nalin Karunaratne's cause of death revealed | publisher=Ada Derana | access-date=9 June 2018}} His funeral was held at the Borella General Cemetery on 8 June 2018.{{cite web | url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Hema-Nalin-silent-forever-151049.html | title=Hema Nalin silent orever | publisher=Daily Mirror | access-date=9 June 2018}}
Awards
- Sumathi Award for Most Popular Teledrama of the Year – Jeewithaya Lassanai.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.wnow.lk/play/Hema-Nalin-Karunaratne--2018---1963/246-422 Hema Nalin Karunaratne 1963 - 2018]
- [http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2018/06/07/?fn=sa18060712 සොඳුරු මිනිසකුගේ සමුගැනීම]
- [http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2018/08/30/?fn=sa18083029 ළෙන්ගතු ආමන්ත්රණය නිහඬ වී තෙමසයි]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Karunaratne, Hema Nalin}}
Category:Sri Lankan journalists
Category:Sri Lankan sociologists