Remembering a giant of a man

The thirteenth death anniversary of Lakshman Kadirgamar, former Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka falls today, August 12. We publish here extracts from tributes paid to him at the ceremony in his memory on June 21, at the unveiling of the painting ‘Guttila the Veena Player’ at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Geneva. The painting was gifted by his wife Suganthie Kadirgamar to the WIPO where Mr. Kadirgamar had once served before becoming Foreign Minister.

WIPO Director General Francis Gurry:

First of all I should say that Lakshman Kadirgamar was responsible for recruiting me and that was in 1985. Lakshman Kadirgamar worked here from 1976 through to 1988, a period of 12 years. And it was a very formative period for this organisation, because when I joined in 1985 the staff comprised 200 people. When LK joined it comprised about 50 persons. And intellectual property, which is a somewhat specialized subject matter as you all know, was even more unknown and recondite as a subject matter in those days.

One of the great professional contributions of Lakshman Kadirgamar, who was the Director of our Asia and Pacific Bureau, was to spread awareness in a very burgeoning Asia, growing Asian economies, of the value and importance of intellectual property. So he played an extraordinary role in this process. We now see that Asia is the source, the major source of intellectual property application worldwide. When Mr. Kadirgamar worked here, that was a very different story and he was instrumental in bringing awareness of intellectual property to Asia and Pacific.

In addition to his professional qualities, Lakshman Kadirgamar was a wonderful human being. He was a gentleman, he was an extremely gracious person. He was extremely broadminded, extremely openminded, with a high intellect and an openness, I think, to all cultures over the world. So it was most appropriate that he did spend 12 years in an international organisation.

For me, personally, it was really a privilege to have worked for him for three years. He taught me a huge number of things in all fields of life, not just intellectual property. And so I am absolutely delighted that we have the opportunity to honour his memory today with the unveiling of this painting.

Ambassador A.L.A Azeez:

Mr. Kadirgamar was a man of exceptional poise, talent and character. He was a brilliant legal luminary, a consummate diplomat, an inspiring orator, a clever strategist and a pragmatic leader. Above all, he was a great humanist.

The exemplary art of diplomacy and his persuasive skills that he brought to bear on his new caling in 1994 took Sri Lanka to greater heights. He did that fearlessly until he was most cruelly downed in August 2005. While the office of the Foreign Ministry was adorned by its holder, it was public knowledge that the holder was an accomplished person, even before he was inducted into that office in 1994. It was not surprising that a person of such stature made the culture of diplomacy and professionalism the mainstay of Sri Lanka’s engagement with the world.

A key attribute of that culture was its emphasis on its accomplishment and result orientation. HIs highly analytical skill carried a conviction, careful nurturing of talent and creative thinking and leadership all combined to engender a constructive ambience within the foreign office leading to the flourishing of the foreign service and its professionals becoming accomplished as well. He had nothing to benefit from politics but politics had much to gain from him. That of course we all know very well is his distinct footprint. A footprint that represents a part of his legacy that spans all spheres. Trinity College and the University of Ceylon, Balliol College, Oxford Union, the unofficial bar, the IL law and the very place we stand here today, the WIPO to which he gave up the prime of his life.

I believe he had certain dreams which he wanted to see accomplished or fulfilled as well. The dream of a peaceful, reconciled Sri Lanka and a secure, stable, sustainable world.We are aware that many strive hard even now both in Sri Lanka and abroad without visibility, without expectation of personal reward to carry out some of his dreams to fruition through small steps and in small ways.

UK Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox:

Lakshman was someone who I was honoured to count as a friend. I first worked with him when I was the Junior Minister at the Foreign Office in London, and in all my interactions I found him to be sharp-minded, quick-witted, and sharing the same drive for peace in Sri Lanka.

While much remains to be done to heal the wounds of the conflict in Sri Lanka, the commitments made here in Geneva are integral to Lakshman’s legacy. He is famously quoted about the interaction he felt between his upbringing in Sri Lanka and his education in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. He said that Oxford was the icing on the cake, but the cake was baked at home. And that I think really sums up both the internationalism of his approach and his deep love for his country. It speaks to me of the pride and the duty that he felt towards his homeland, and as a Tamil in a country polarised by an ethnic divide, a place he tried to find solutions and create the kind of society that he wanted for his country for the future. And it was in his devotion to his country that he returned there after years in London and here in Geneva, where he was to pay the ultimate price at the hands of men of violence.

He has many achievements, but it speaks volumes about him that he is also remembered for the impact that he had here at WIPO, including recruiting the future Director General of the WTO.

And of course he talked very fondly about the time that he had here. He was not only a brilliant politician and a brilliant official, but he had a great legal mind, which is one of the things I most remember about him. But he was also someone who was intelligent, thoughtful, pragmatic, and passionate, and I have to say, as someone who negotiated with him, tough. And he was selflessly devoted in bringing all of these skills to making things better both across the Asian region and in his home country of Sri Lanka. He is someone who has been actively missed by all of us who knew him well.

And I hope that for decades to come, future delegates of WIPO member states and staff at WIPO will be prompted by this painting to learn about him, who was in many ways a giant of a man, and to follow in the legacy of someone who served and still serves as a great example to us all. in so many ways.