Rex – A flamboyant icon of journalism

A creative genius in the dynamics of journalism, passed away at a Colombo hospital early yesterday morning after a trail blazing career spanning more than half a century.

The  74-year-old Rex, flamboyant and filled with exemplary leadership qualities such as a commitment to hard dedicated work, started his career in 1964 at the Independent Newspapers of Ceylon Limited. He rose to be the Deputy Editor and then the Editor of Sri Lanka’s most popular and widely read English language weekly, The Weekend.

Being a brilliant artist and graphic designer even before the marvels of modern technology were discovered, Rex carried The Weekend to be the flagship of Independent Newspapers Limited, which at its peak had more than 15 Sinhala, Tamil and English publications – daily, weekly and monthly.

In 1977, when the Independent Newspapers Group was reopened after being sealed by the then Government for about three years, its award winning Chairman Sepala Gunasena called upon Rex to rebuild  and redesign the daily Sun newspaper also. And he did it with a flare and polished professionalism that was beyond Mr. Gunasena’s expectations or imagination.

Rex worked hard and with commitment for 10 to 12 hours a day. It was a magnificent obsession, a sincere 24/7 commitment which inspired most of his colleagues to touch the greatest heights and dimensions of journalism.

If Rex was in office from 10 am -8pm daily, he was also available at home anytime till dawn and many were the deputy editors, sub editors and reporters who would contact him even after midnight.

Rex’s dedication and exemplary work reminded most colleagues of Longfellow’s immortal line, “the heights reached by great personalities reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they while their colleagues slept, were toiling upward in the night.”

Rex was widely read and had a deep understanding of Sri Lankan affairs and international affairs. He wrote a weekly column on International affairs and was the Sri Lanka correspondent for the German News Agency DPA.

After Independent Newspapers Limited closed down in 1990, Rex De Silva undeterred by this and still full of dynamism and determination – went to Brunei where for almost two decades he was the Editor in Chief of that nation’s premiere newspaper – The Brunei Bulletin.

After retiring from that post in 2009, Rex joined his children Nishan and Dilan in the United States where he dedicated his final years to art, after being in the heart of journalism where he had painted many a glorious picture with substance, much in line with his mission and vision. 

He regularly came back to Sri Lanka for holidays and kept in close touch with journalists and journalism here. He leaves his wife Ranjini and two sons. He last wish was that the virtues and the values of his life would be followed in his death also. He requested that a simple funeral be held. In line with his wishes the body was cremated in Kanatte at 2pm , on Monday November 16.

Good bye Rex, sweet prince of journalism, may hosts of devas sing thee to thy sleep.