An amazing mentor, teacher and friend to all of us
I first met Judge C.G. Weeramantry, or Judge (as we called him) in December 2007, when by luck, I received the opportunity to intern at the Weeramantry International Centre for Peace Education and Research (WICPER). I had read and heard many stories about the great Judge Weeramantry and his contribution to the legal world, and was truly intimidated prior to meeting him. To my surprise, I was introduced to a humble and kind gentleman, who would always have a beautiful smile on his face. It was hard to imagine that this gentleman was the former Vice President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Subsequently, I had the privilege to work for his organisation for about four years, and got to know this wonderful human being quite intimately. Judge’s greatest strength and driving force was his wife, Rosemary (Madam). A strong willed lady with a jovial spirit, Madam ran the “show”, enabling Judge to focus on his legal writings. Judge was also blessed with five wonderful children, and eleven grand-kids, all of whom treated us like we were part of the family.
Judge was a wealth of knowledge on various topics such as history, religion, law and the environment; he was gracious enough to impart this knowledge to professionals and students alike. His constant message to the world was that we should utilise our resources sparingly, protect the environment and fulfil our duties and responsibilities towards future generations.
Judge was a rare human being; generous and nurturing in spirit, with a heart full of love for all humanity. He was an amazing mentor, teacher and friend to all of us. The gift of legal teachings he presented to the world and his work towards the abolishment of nuclear weapons will inspire generations to come.
Dearest Judge, thank you for all you did for each and every one of us. It is one of the greatest honours of my life to have known a gentleman such as you.
Heaven is blessed and richer now, with your presence. May you be blessed always!
Janani Wijetunge Palihakkara