{
  "id": 4328721,
  "title": "Vijita Fernando, literary personality, dies months short of her 100th birthday",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/vijita-fernando-literary-personality-dies-months-short-of-her-100th",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-30T00:00:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/vijita-fernando-literary-personality-dies-months-short-of-her-100th-birthday/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Vijita Fernando, a renowned author and journalist, passed away on Thursday at the age of 99, just a few months shy of her 100th birthday. Her funeral took place at the General Cemetery in Colombo on Saturday. Born in Hikkaduwa in 1926, she was likely the oldest living graduate of the University of Ceylon at the time of her death. As one of Sri Lanka's most distinguished literary figures, she spent many years as a feature writer, women's and children's page editor, and leader writer for the Ceylon Daily News. She was awarded multiple State Literary Awards, including the Gratiaen Prize in 2002 for her translation of Sinhala fiction into English. Her works also included a novel published in 2013 and two collections of short stories, which have been published abroad. Additionally, several of her short stories were broadcast on the BBC World Service, including a Spanish translation. The accomplished writer was also the youngest sister of the late Mr. M. Chandrasoma, a prominent civil servant. She was married to the late Bonnie Fernando, another respected journalist. Vijita Fernando leaves behind three daughters.",
  "summary": "The death occurred on Thursday of Vijita Fernando, well known author and journalist, a few months short of her 100th birth anniversary. Her funeral was held at the General Cemetery, Colombo, on Saturday. Born in Hikkaduwa in 1926, she at the time of her death was probably the oldest living graduate of the University of Ceylon. […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}