Mandela, an iconic figure -MR

6 December 2013 09:59 am - 9 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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President Mahinda Rajapaksa described late Nelson Mandela as an iconic figure who has left an indelible mark globally. In a condolence message, President Rajapaksa as Chair in Office of the Commonwealth said the Commonwealth was enriched with the return of South Africa to its fold in 1994, under the leadership of the late Nelson Mandela.

President Rajapaksa, in his message of condolences to South African President Jacob Zuma said the legacy left behind by the late leader would be hard to surpass.

Full text of the condolence message:

Excellency,

On behalf of the Commonwealth, as its Chair in Office, I convey our heartfelt sympathies to Your Excellency, the Government and the people of South Africa, and in particular, family members on the sad passing of the founding father of modern South Africa, His Excellency Nelson Mandela. He was an iconic figure who has left an indelible mark on all of us globally.

The Commonwealth was enriched with the return of South Africa to its fold in 1994, under the leadership of the late Nelson Mandela, who represented the highest values of human dignity and statesmanship in contemporary history. Having sacrificed a major part of his illustrious life in prison to end the abhorrent practice of apartheid, he brought new life, dignity and freedom to the people of South Africa, and indeed to the whole of the African continent, which has the largest regional representation in the Commonwealth. The legacy he leaves behind will indeed be hard to surpass.

The highest tribute we in the Commonwealth can pay to this great son of South Africa and Statesman is to preserve the values of democracy, diversity and unity that he so cherished.

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Comments - 9

Kanchane Athauda Saturday, 07 December 2013 06:48 AM

Yeah. Try to learn from him, not to grab everything at once, how to forgive and put the country in the correct path as no one can ruin it and leave the hell out of presidency before it is too late.

anura Saturday, 07 December 2013 07:17 AM

MR, please reflect on yourself on this occasion. Try to be an honest man like Mandela without promoting corruption involving yourself and your band of corrupt ministers and politicians.

rosh Friday, 06 December 2013 11:55 AM

Crazy??? Then even the pigs will stop eating .....
We are not that lucky nation mate........

Bryan Nicholas Saturday, 07 December 2013 10:48 AM

A towering example to present day world leaders. Madiba is no more but his visionary legacy will live on. May his soul rest in peace.

N K Ratnam Saturday, 07 December 2013 11:49 AM

"The highest tribute we in the Commonwealth can pay to this great son of South Africa and Statesman is to preserve the values of democracy, diversity and unity that he so cherished."

Now set a date to start practicing those values.

Andrew Pitugala Saturday, 07 December 2013 04:17 AM

The best complement, is to follow his example of humilty and equallity for all.

VoiceOfLanka Saturday, 07 December 2013 01:26 PM

In my opinion, just as with million others, what cuts Mandela out as someone who can be compared with Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr. is his amazing ability to speak and act with no malice or hatred to even the perpetrators who wrongly put and kept him in a harsh jail for 27 yrs of his life. Nor did he did put his opponents and election contestants in jail on trumped up charges, nor bought them with illegal and unethical 'handouts' and most importantly; he did not attempt to change the constitution to remove term limits. He retired gracefully after 2 terms like most good democrats. In other words; he practiced the democracy he preached.

investigatortigator Monday, 09 December 2013 09:27 AM

what about you ?.

Hiran Friday, 06 December 2013 10:21 AM

MR, pls be tried to be someone like Mandela. Many thanks!

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Mandela, an iconic figure -MR

Comments - 9

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