The Kadirgamar who molded us

20th death anniversary of Minister Deshamannya  Lakshman Kadirgamar, PC 

“He was a wonderful person and fatherly figure and motivator of our Foreign Service.”

“Minister who was extremely busy but was ready to spend one and a half hours with young newly appointed diplomat to brief him and motivate him before he takes up an appointment in a foreign country!”

“Our Minister said, ‘Hon Pranab Mukherjee is my friend. There is NO protocol for friends!’”

“’Ravi, Indian economy depends on monsoon... So, government will have money to help neighbouring countries like us.’ Brilliant thinking and foresight.”

“He want us to observe, learn and perform well for the country.”

By Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne

Twenty years on, the legacy of Lakshman Kadirgamar, PC, continues to resonate with those whose lives he touched. A distinguished international lawyer who returned to serve his country, Kadirgamar was more than just a Foreign Minister; he was a mentor and a fatherly figure. Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne reflects on the man who shaped a generation of leaders, sharing personal anecdotes that reveal Kadirgamar’s unique blend of professionalism, humility, and unwavering patriotism.

We miss the Minister who groomed us. I think it’s the same feeling to all young diplomats (both ladies and gentlemen) whom he has recruited when he was the Minister more than 20 years ago.

When I heard the news about his death I rushed to Colombo Mortuary in my car from Welisara.

My mind rushed back to the day that I met Mr Kadirgamar for the first time. I was selected to the post of Defence Adviser, Sri Lanka High Commission (SLHC), in New Delhi, India in November 2001. I was given time to meet Minister prior to my departure to India at 9AM at his residence. Half an hour was allocated for this meeting. There were two more clerical staffers who were going on appointment to an Embassy in a Western country also waiting to meet Minister after me. I was surprised to note that Minister used to meet ALL our staff (diplomats or clerical staff) going to Foreign Missions prior to their departure. 

When he saw me on that day in uniform, he asked two staffers to meet him first, finished their calls soon and sat with me for a long interview. 

He knew about the Navy as his elder brother was Navy Commander in 70s. He inquired about my foreign training exposures and advised me on the important appointment I am going to hold for next three years. His briefing aptly covered the importance of India to us.

Our half an hour meeting went on for one an half hours. Minister who was extremely busy but was ready to spend one and half hours with young newly appointed diplomat to brief him and motivate him before he took up appointment in a foreign country! I was so impressed and determined to do my best at my new appointment.

Independence

He was working abroad as an international lawyer with very high repute until our President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga invited him to serve for our beloved country. She made him a National list Member of Parliament and our Minister of Foreign Affairs.

I personally consider it was my destiny to serve under such an eminent Foreign Minister. Minister was a frequent visitor to New Delhi. He very well understood the importance of India in our foreign policy. He had so many friends there. We who served at SLHC, New Delhi as junior diplomats always benefited with Mr Kadirgamar’s visits to New Delhi. 

Whether it is former Foreign Ministers Natwar Singh, Jaswant Singh, Yashwant Sinha, Pranab Mukherjee or Ministers Mani Shankar Iyar or Kapil Sibal, all were Minister’s friends. He always introduced us, the young diplomats to these eminent Indian leaders.

Usually calm SLHC become busy as a beehive when our Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Chinnaiah announces “Minister is coming next week”. 

All-important briefs and reports were prepared and updated. Minister had great habit of listening to us and get our view points. My friend Saj U Mendis, who was a first Secretary at that time will speak until Minister says “I got your point Saj”. 

Usually he stays with our High Commissioner Mangala Munasinghe in his residence. Mr and Mrs Munasinghe looked after Minister and madam very well with love and affection. 

If he stays in a hotel, I had great responsibility of looking after his security. He was a prime target of LTTE. Indian government also knew it and provided maximum security arrangements for the Minister.

He was a great Orator. His speeches were excellent. The excellence came from his hard work. Usually he comes to New Delhi on a Srilankan flight leaving Colombo in the afternoon. 

He used to rest well for four hours in flight and had light dinner prior to landing at New Delhi at 7PM. Then straight to hotel and sits down and work on his speech for next day. His trusted lieutenant, his personal assistant Lenagala (Lena) on his side, they work till late night. 

If madam was accompanied, she insist Minister to go to sleep and have some rest. It was amazing a person with kidney transplant work that hard. The hotel business Centre virtually taken over by us as our Secretariat. 

Next morning when Minister speaks in the scheduled conference, the Hindu newspaper editor, Minister’s good friend and Ranji trophy cricketer, N Ram writes his editorial saying “when Lakshman speaks India listen”. His speeches in New Delhi were so brilliant and well-articulated. He understood India well and Indian leaders respected him. He was dear friend of India.

Among impromptu speeches Minister has delivered, the speech he made at London in September 2004 to Sri Lankan cricketers during dinner reception was the best. He showed the difference between national cricketers and our politicians in his witty speech. It is available on the  cricketmachan.com website. 

During my tenure under the Minister, I learnt three things important about India. I will explain them with the true incidents.

No protocol for friends - Minister’s best friend was Hon Pranab Mukherjee, very senior Politician from Congress party. He was Minister of Defence in 2004. He became India’s Finance Minister, External Affairs Minister and later HE the President of India. During one of the visits by Minister Kadirgamar to New Delhi in 2004, meeting was scheduled at Meeting room of the hotel where Minister was staying (Taj Palace Hotel) with Hon Pranab Mukherjee, the Minister of Defence of India. 

Our Minister informed me to tell him when Hon Mukherjee is leaving his office. When I informed, our Minister came down by lift from 5th floor and received Hon Mukherjee at the entrance to the hotel. Then they went to  the meeting room to gather. After the meeting also some way. Our Minister walked up to the car of Indian Minister. Later when I told our Minister as per Protocol he has to receive Hon Mukherjee at meeting room and asked “why Sir you went up to car porch when you have to receive him at meeting room?” our Minister said “Hon Pranab Mukherjee is my friend. There is NO protocol for friends!”

In democratic country, do not forget the opposition - when our Minister visits New Delhi, he meet government leaders such as PM, Minister of External Affairs affairs, Defence Minister, etc. After these meetings with ruling party leaders, he meet the opposition party leaders also and brief them.

One day I asked him why? He said “Ravi, do not forget, India is a democracy. In democracy, one day opposition will come into power. It may be in a weeks’ time. May be in five years’ time. But when they come into power, they will remember you.” 

For Mr Kadirgamar, progress in Indian monsoon was very important. He will call and ask me the progress of monsoon, whether monsoon in time or early or delayed. Whether rain is heavy or mild. Whether sufficient water is received in agricultural areas or not. One day I asked him why he is so keen about Indian monsoon progress. 

He said, “Ravi, Indian economy depends on monsoon. When they get enough water, they will have a good crop of rice, wheat and vegetables. So, the government is not required to give grants to farmers. So, government will have money to help neighbouring countries like us”. Brilliant thinking and foresight.

We miss Minister who groomed us. 

I think it’s the same feeling to all young diplomats (both ladies and gentlemen) whom he had recruited when he was the Minister more than 20 years ago. These diplomats now holding high positions of Ambassadors and High Commissioners today due to excellent training, grooming and motivation Mr Kadirgamar gave them when they were on the job training. He made us more patriotic and hard working. He want us to observe, learn and perform well for the country. We miss him today. Otherwise he will introduce us to World leaders saying “he/ she is my student”.

I will conclude my writeup with another true story.

One day, Minister was rushing to President House with a junior diplomat at that time (I think its Chanaka Talpahewa) to meet President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga for the scheduled meeting with Russian Foreign Minister who was on visit to Sri Lanka. Suddenly Minister stopped, looked at Chanaka, walked up to him and adjust/tighten Chanaka’s tie knot and said “now looks better”.

He was a wonderful person and fatherly figure and motivator of our Foreign Service.

Tell me which Minister will do such thing to his junior officer?

May he attain bliss of Supreme Nirvana.

The writer, Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne, hold the tittles WV, RWP and Bar, RSP, VSV, USP, NI (M) (Pakistan), ndc, psn, Bsc, (Hons) (War Studies) (Karachi) MPhil (Madras), Former Navy Commander and Former Chief of Defense Staff, Former Chairman, Trincomalee Petroleum Terminals Ltd, Former Managing Director Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. He is also a former High Commissioner to Pakistan