A model Foreign Minister with great qualities

Late Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar

Lakshman Kadirgamar, an extraordinary politician-cum-diplomat par excellence and once-in-a-century human being, in an ethnically divided Sri Lanka, best described by Admiral (Retd) Ravi Wijeguneratne, the former Navy stalwart (The Island, 18th August). This prompts me to tell the readers a story of an election meeting in Australia. In the 2007 general election, the former Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, sought support from the local Sri Lankan community as he got wind that he was facing a tough battle to hold the seat, Bennelong, that he represented for 33 years continuously, in Canberra.

He sought the assistance of the then Foreign Minister, South Australian Alexander Downer, to represent him at this meeting held in the local community centre. Addressing the Sri Lankan crowd, Downer sympathised with the fate that befell his friend, the Late Lakshman Kadirgamar. He explained how the latter had strengthened the friendship between Sri Lanka and Australia and how Australia supported Sri Lanka. He went an extra length describing his association with Sri Lanka’s genial Foreign Minister. He praised his stance on many issues that brought credit to Sri Lanka by Mr Kadirgamar, both in Australia and internationally. He mentioned how he felt sorry for Mr Kadirgamar, a sportsman of repute that he could not even attend a cricket Test match in Colombo because of the death threats posed by the now defunct LTTE terrorists’ organisation. The Australian government had received many overtures from the LTTE for a meeting in Canberra. Downer said Australia stood by Sri Lanka by refusing to meet the LTTE. Australia stood by their stand by saying ‘no meetings until you lay down arms’.

As the Admiral said, the loss of Mr. Kadirgamar is not only a tragedy but a great loss to Sri Lanka. He was a model Foreign Minister and a man with great qualities. His untimely death was a real blow to our nation.

RANJITH SAMRANAYAKE

Sydney, Australia