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| Sunday, 28 August 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Tribute to
Lakshman Kadirgamar
by Prof. Ravindra Fernando A colleague phoned me just after midnight on August 12 to say that Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was shot and was taken to the Accident Service of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo. I immediately rushed there. Near the operating theatre of the Accident Services, I saw Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. I asked him, "What happened?" He looked at me, but did not say anything. His grief-stricken face and the movements of his hands said everything. Lakshman Kadirgamar was no more. I cannot describe my grief when I saw his lifeless body lying on the theatre table. A few months ago, when I was surfing the Internet to gather any information on the late Justice E.F.N. Gratiaen, the Supreme Court Judge for my book on the Sathasivam murder case, I found that Lakshman Kadirgamar has mentioned in a lecture to felicitate H.L. de Silva, that he worked as the private secretary to Justice Gratiaen. I wrote to Minister Kadirgamar that I am writing a book on the Sathasivam murder case and I annexed the chapter I wrote about Justice Gratiaen. I met him at a function a few days later, and informed him about the book and requested him to write a foreword. He accepted my invitation. He had vivid memories of the trial and he said that he was there when Prof. Milroy Paul, Professor of Surgery of the University of Colombo gave evidence and that he enjoyed every moment of the brilliant cross-examination by Dr. Colvin R. de Silva, the senior defence counsel. I wrote to him again a few weeks later that the book is ready to go to print and reminded him that I would like to have the foreword. On the morning of August 9, I met Kadirgamar at his official residence at Wijerama Mawatha. He was in a very relaxed mood, unimaginable for a busy Foreign Minister in a turbulent country. In his quiet and pleasant office, which had several Buddhist statues and pictures, and statues of other religious leaders as well, we had an interesting discussion for about an hour. When we talked about Justice Gratiaen, Kadirgamar mentioned that he wanted to write a book about Justice Gratiaen, about 20 years ago, but he could not do it. I indicated to him that I can assist him and with the help of a newly passed-out law graduate from the Faculty of Law, we can do the necessary research for this publication. He agreed. Kadirgamar then told me that Justice Gratiaen's life story can be divided into 5 phases. First, the period he practised as a brilliant lawyer after returning from the UK. The second was the period he served as an appointed member in the first Parliament, nominated by Sri Lanka's first Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake. The period Justice Gratiaen served as a Judge of the Supreme Court was the third. The fourth was his two years as the Attorney General of the Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike's government and the last was his tenure at the Privy Council as a Barrister. Kadirgamar said several interesting and amusing anecdotes of Justice Gratiaen's life and how Justice Gratiaen wanted H.L. de Silva, President's Counsel, to be a Crown Counsel at the Attorney General's Department. Finally, he asked me when my book on the Sathasivam case would be out. "I hope to launch it on October 9. The day that poor Mrs. Sathasivam was killed," I said. "Shall I put that date in my diary?" "Not yet, Sir. If there is a Presidential election in November, I will not be able to do it," I told him. Then he asked me whether I would be contesting again in a general election. I said, "Yes." He smiled and did not say anything. I left his residence and he wanted me to contact his secretary in a few days to get the foreword. Then I never thought I would see his lifeless body 3 days later. His secretary informed me that he had told her that he would dictate the foreword on Saturday. But... Lakshman Kadirgamar served his country and people as an honest, dedicated, patriotic politician. No, as a statesman. He stood for an undivided, democratic, peaceful country. His tragic death reminds us that we have to pursue with more vigour the peace process he initiated with the President, by inviting the Norwegian facilitators. Some have started beating war drums from their comfortable houses and party offices in Colombo. Thankfully, the President and the Leader of Opposition and the parties they represent, accounting for over 80% of the voters, do not agree to start a war, whatever the provocations are. It is time that the Ceasefire Agreement signed by Ranil Wickramasinghe is strengthened and talks for a final negotiated settlement commence. Achieving lasting peace will be the highest tribute the Nation can pay to Lakshman Kadirgamar. May Lakshman Kadirgamar attain Nibbana. |
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