Deshamanya Dr. Vernon Mendis celebrates 80th Birthday

People who matter in this country, students and aspirants of diplomatic positions invariably wait eagerly for that erudite feature article on foreign affairs that appears in every volume of LMD. The author of this brilliant claim is none other than the doyen of diplomacy and founder, present Director General of the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute, Deshamanya Dr. Vernon Mendis.

For Dr. Mendis' birthdays come and go. He is not concerned about years adding up to his ripe old age. His mental equilibrium, his analytical skills, sharp wit, the choice of inevitable word, phrase, technical jargon show no signs of diminishing with the advancement of age, so he goes on with his facilitating, writing making keynote addresses at special events unabated. One thing for sure, he exercises his brain regularly by continuing his life long habit of voracious reading.

It is indeed rare, not only in this country, but all over the world for eminent persons who shone in their chosen professions, two, three, four decades ago, to go on sharing the superlative knowledge and skills with the younger sets. Undoubtedly, the desire to go on in this fashion needs much more than physical attributes.

Above all, unless you are not driven by a tremendous, overpowering patriotic fervour, storing love for the youth - the future leaders awaiting to take over the mantle of power in politics, public sector or private sector organisations - it will definitely, not be possible to carry on in spite of the signals you get with advancing age.

Dr. Mendis has been working non-stop, since his retirement from Overseas Service. This speaks for the great man, his indomitable spirit, his un-diminishing efforts to make a worthy contribution to his motherland, as he often says, in return for what he got from her.

Dr. Mendis - second father to many of us - may you be blessed with Thisarana to continue with your yeoman service to Sri Lankans for many more years to come.

Thilaka Perera