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Lakshman Kadirgamar- Best Foreign Minister Sri Lanka ever had: State Minister Wijesinha
State Minister for Higher Education Rajiva Wijesinha said that the late Lakshman Kadirgamar was “easily the best Foreign Minister Sri Lanka ever had”, and that, he knew how to handle the world and Sri Lanka’s concerns with those of the Tamil people who had suffered so much under the LTTE.
Mrs. Kadirgamar and Dr. Wijesinha at the event
Unveiling a portrait of the late Foreign Minister at the University of Peradeniya last Wednesday (18), Dr. Wijesinha said that Mr. Kadirgamar was a practical man who never forgot the intellectual foundations Oxford University provided him, but, as he said at Oxford when his own portrait was unveiled there during his lifetime; “Oxford was the icing on the cake – but the cake was baked at home”.
The late Mr Kadirgamar’s portrait is the first alumni whose portrait is being unveiled at the Peradeniya University in its entire history. Mr Kadirgamar was an undergraduate of the first batch of Law students under the famous Vice Chancellor Sir Ivor Jennings.
Dr. Wijesinha said that he met Mr Kadirgamar first at Oxford, where he lived for many years after he had graduated from that university. He had had a distinguished career there, which included being President of the Oxford Union.
He said, “Mr Kadirgamar certainly succeeded as a politician, in his early days and later, through his sympathetic understanding of all points of view. This enabled him in turn to ensure that all those with whom he had interactions, appreciated that he was thinking of their interests too. Thus, though his commitment to his native country was absolute, he ensured that all those who had interests in this country felt he would do his best to prevent anything they might find adverse.
“Unfortunately, I am not sure that Mr Kadirgamar’s dynamic approach has been studied or understood by those who took over Foreign Relations from him in 2002, and then again after his tragic assassination in 2005. I believe the present Foreign Minister did achieve some successes in 2006, on the lines of those Mr Kadirgamar achieved, but he was not able to entrench an analytical approach in the Ministry. In particular, it was sad that he did not see the need, which Mr Kadirgamar had tried to satisfy, to build up think tanks which could study the way the world was moving, and provide analyses and recommendations for policymakers to work with.
“I have served on many Boards in my life, but the one I enjoyed most, and from which I benefited, was that of the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, which Mr Kadirgamar set up in 2002, when he ceased to be Foreign Minister. As you are aware, he was killed the night after a function at the BCIS, and after that the place fell apart. I tried, at one stage, to revive it, and perhaps I should have grasped the opportunity offered in 2006 by the former President to Chair that Board. But I did not feel it appropriate, after I had brought the waste of such a resource to his attention. Later, when I conveyed a message to the effect that I was ready, given the failure of the Centre to fulfill Mr Kadirgamar’s vision, the President asked me, instead, to take charge of the Peace Secretariat.
“So I moved from academia to national politics. In this there is no better model to follow than Lakshman Kadirgamar. I learnt then, about how he had handled the world, whilst always being sensitive to Sri Lankan concerns, both security concerns and the concerns of the Tamil people who suffered so much under the LTTE. Sadly, he was not here to witness the end of the LTTE in Sri Lanka, and to ensure that we used that opportunity to involve the Tamil people fully in democratic politics. We need to do more, not only to ensure that the Tamil people become equal partners in the public sector as well as the private sector, but also, that we empower them through education and training to fulfill their potential, as we should be doing throughout the country. If we keep this proud product of both Peradeniya and Oxford in our sights, we cannot fail” concluded Dr. Wijesinha.
‘I hope students are inspired to emulate him’-Prof. Jayasinghe
On March 18, 2005, a similar ceremony was held at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, to unveil the portrait of a great son of mother Lanka, Lakshman Kadirgamar who had been a student at Oxford University almost 50 years earlier. This is a singular honour bestowed by the Oxford Union on only 15 others in its 183-year history, said Prof Chandrika Jayasinghe of the Medical Faculty of the University of Peradeniya.
“Ten years later, we are gathered here at this august assembly to unveil his portrait at the University of Peradeniya. This is a memorable and a historic occasion, as this is the first time that a portrait of an illustrious alumnus of the University of Peradeniya is being unveiled at the University.
“Lakshman Kadirgamar became the Foreign Minister during one of the most difficult periods of our recent history. His presence raised the image of the Government in the rest of the world, as he was already acknowledged internationally. Since assuming office in 1994, he worked tirelessly to restore dignity and recognition to our country. He projected his vision for a new Sri Lanka, which went far beyond the parochial boundaries of race, caste, creed and religion. During his tenure as Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, he undertook to restore the Jaffna Public Library. He was instrumental in establishing the Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies, to create an independent, multidisciplinary research institute capable of analysing Sri Lanka’s strategic interests within the contemporary global environment.” “While being proud of his Tamil origins, he spoke of a Sri Lankan identity and fought on behalf of a country where all sections of our communities could think of themselves as Sri Lankans, while maintaining their own ethnic identity. He believed in unity through diversity.
“I am certain that the portrait of this extraordinary alumnus that we unveil today, 65 years after he graduated from this University, will inspire many students of the University of Peradeniya to emulate his noble journey of serving mother Lanka.”
Kadirgamar was a “native gold”: Vice Chancellor
Vice Chancellor of Peradeniya University, Prof Athula Senaratne in his address, said that the University of Peradeniya was the birthplace of legends.
“At the time young Lakshman Kadirgamar entered University, he was “native gold”. In geological terms, native gold has only silver as an impurity. The University of Peradeniya (then University of Ceylon) only provided him a peaceful and serene environment to groom himself. After graduation, he was enrolled at Oxford. He came back a sovereign person.
“He paved the way for peace and harmony in this country and sacrificed his life. We at Peradeniya are ever grateful to his unparalleled patriotism.”