Senior journalist and former Editor of Silumina newspaper Karunadasa Sooriyaarachchi, who is famously known as 'Kasuri ', passed away this evening. 

Sooriyaarachchi, aged 69, was receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital following a brief illness, sources close to him said. 

By the time of his demise, Sooriyaarachchi was working in the capacity of a Consultant at the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited. 

Before assuming duties as the Editor in Chief of the state run Silumina newspaper soon after President Mahinda Rajapaksa's ascension to Presidency in 2005, Sooriyaarachchi was a senior journalist attached to the Sunday Divaina newspaper. 

He worked at the Sunday Divaina newspaper for more than two decades. He started his journalistic career as a feature writer of the Sunday newspaper. 

He was well-known for his popular column 'Watarawuma' which appeared in the paper for more than one and a half decades. He was also known as a novelist who receoved numerous awards including state literary awards. 

Before becoming a journalist, he worked as a teacher for a brief period.