Veteran sports journalist and Associate Editor (Sports) of the Sunday Observer, Elmo Rodrigopulle passed away yesterday at the Colombo National Hospital following a brief illness.
He had celebrated his 80th birthday on July 18. Elmo, as everyone called him, was a former Sri Lanka Board XI cricketer and an ex-St. Benedict’s cricket captain.
Elmo was also the Sports Editor of the Daily News for many years. He started his journalism career from the Times of Ceylon Group as a sports reporter.
He was a regular columnist of the Daily News and the Sunday Observer. His sports columns were eagerly awaited by sports-loving readers here and overseas. He occasionally wrote articles and columns on non-sports issues as well.
Although he specialized in local and international cricket, he had a knack for reporting and writing on all major sports. His second love after cricket was soccer, which he helped promote islandwide. He always sported a smile on his face and was eager to help young sports journalists to improve their reporting. He enlivened the sports, sub and news desks with this witty retorts. The funeral will be held on Thursday. The remains will be at A.F. Raymond’s Funeral Parlour from noon today.