A quintessential gentleman politician

Rodney MARTINESZ

DEATH ANNIVERSARY: Today marks the first death anniversary of politician-statesman Laskhman Kadirgamar who left his stamp on the national stage perhaps as no other politician before or since had done. The late Lakshman Kadirgamar was no ordinary politician.

On the contrary he exuded an aura bordering on reverence which only a few politicians since independence did command. Thrust into politics quite by accident this cannot be a strange attribute associated with the suave urbane diplomat.

For that was what he really was - a diplomat to the very core. Not for him was the rough and tumble of the mundane political debate. His debonair persona was not cut out for such a role.

He would rather fell a critic with his ready wit and uncanny riposte to which he had no peer, drawing from his vast reservoir as an Oxford alumni and a leading barrister of his day.

For, Lakshman Kadirgamar represented a genre that held strong views on the concepts of dignity, decency and decorum be at the citadel of democracy, the Parliament or in the general conduct of an MP.

Given his intellectual standing and international reputation one could only expect such an outlook from this unique individual. He was the quintessential Gentleman politician.

His quite unobtrusiveness in the hurly burly of parliamentary debates especially when he was the target was quite like the man who however would have his say in the end with devastating effect with a rapier like thrust that would settle any contentious issue beyond any doubt.

This was amply demonstrated during the famous Thawakkal debate in Parliament when Kadir as he was affectionately known kept his diplomatic cool amidst the vicious barbs hurled at him for two full days.

In the end he answered all such allegations with characteristic aplomb and demolished all venal accusations in a manner which only he is capable of.

Another typical characteristic of Kadir was his down to earth simplicity for a man of his giant stature and international repute and standing not to mention his long list of academic achievements. High office and position sat lightly on Kadir.

He walked high and mighty on the world stage but was never condescending to lesser mortals whom he always put at ease. This writer experienced first this simplistic nature of this colossus while accompanying him on an official trip to London.

That trip was an invitation to honour him with a portrait at the Oxford Union but he took time off from the event to initiate fund-raisers in London for the tsunami victims.

Kadir was the genial host to us scribes and treated us as equals. As a politician he was always ready to compromise, a trait which endeared him even to his bitterest critic.

His fund of good humour and temperate language, polished demeanour made him a favourite after dinner speaker where his full repertoire was on display. As Foreign Minister has succeeded in retrieving the country from its blackened reputation which also convinced the world to act against the LTTE.

Kadirgamar never wavered in his fight against LTTE terrorism and the country owes him a deep gratitude for his tireless efforts that saw the terrorists proscribed in many Western countries. It was his compelling advocacy and eloquent persuasive skills at World fora that contributed in no small measure to defang the tiger.

But his most single contribution that would propagate his memory among the majority community was the winning for Buddhists the honour of having the Wesak festival included in the UN list of international holidays.

This was honour won for the entire Buddhist population of the world. The country today more than at any time miss the services of Lashman Kadirgamar when his giant presence on the international stage would have helped drive home the advantage already gained by the proscription of the LTTE across the board.