WIPO to set up 'Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Scholarship'

COLOMBO: The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) has decided to establish a 'Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Scholarship" in appreciation and recognition of the services of the late Minister.

The decision came following an invitation by Sri Lanka to the world body to commemorate the life and work of Kadirgamar, who had been associated with WIPO, headquartered in Geneva, for more than two decades, a Foreign Ministry release said.

The scholarship is to be awarded annually to a deserving candidate from the Asia Pacific region to pursue higher studies in the field of intellectual property.

Communicating this decision to the Government, WIPO Director General Kamil Idris said WIPO has lost "an illustrious former colleague".

Describing the long years of Kadirgamar's service to WIPO, he said Kadirgamar actively promoted the use of intellectual property rights to achieve economic, cultural and social development in developing countries", and that the contributions he made as a member of the Policy Advisory Commission of WIPO, were notable for their erudition and wisdom.

Kadirgamar was instrumental in raising to the present high level, the cooperation between WIPO and the Sri Lankan Government.