Journalist Dharshana Handungoda, Who Redefined Sri Lanka’s Digital Media Space, Passes Away
Veteran journalist Dharshana Handungoda, who sought new dimensions in social media journalism and left a powerful mark on Sri Lanka’s alternative media landscape, has passed away.
Handungoda, the editor and presenter of the popular YouTube channel “SL Deshaya,” had been receiving treatment for a prolonged illness and passed away this morning (10) at the National Hospital in Colombo, family sources confirmed.
He was widely known for exposing and critically examining a range of high-profile corruption cases, including those linked to Azzath Salley, the Barracuda Hotel affair, Avant Garde Maritime Services, members of the Rajapaksa family, and Tiran Alles. These investigations became defining public debates of their time and remain etched in the collective memory of the public.
Moving beyond the confines of traditional media, Dharshana Handungoda gained prominence for his straight-talking, firebrand style and his uncompromising analysis of socio-political issues. His investigative programmes on SL Deshaya generated intense discussion within Sri Lanka’s digital media sphere and attracted a large, politically engaged audience.
SL Deshaya is also remembered for its significant contribution to shaping public opinion during the Galle Face protests, which ultimately led to sustained and largely peaceful mass demonstrations against the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, widely criticised for his lack of political and economic competence.
Dharshana Handungoda will be remembered as a journalist who challenged power, expanded the boundaries of digital journalism, and played a notable role in one of the most consequential protest movements in Sri Lanka’s recent history.