Lakshman Kadirgamar [1932 - 2005]
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Continued from last issue:
Arunachalam Arunachalam Mahadeva son of Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam once
lamented that when universal franchise was introduced he had to go "far" to Jaffna in
search of a constituency though he had lived for the greater part of his life in
Colombo. This was Lakshman Kadirgamars dilemma too when he began toying with
the idea of entering Parliament. Though the multi - member constituencies of
Colombo Central (3) and Colombo South (2) were carved out that way to provide for
Tamil representation things never turned out that way. The upper and upper middle
class voters of Colombo South preferred JR Jayewardene of the UNP and to a lesser
extent Bernard Soysa of the LSSP over and above any Tamil candidate.
The lower middle class and working class Tamils of Colombo Central cast their votes
for Pieter Keuneman and later Ranasinghe Premadasa. Bala Tampoe in 1960 and
MSS Sellasamy in 1977 failed to win. Yet Sellasamy won later in 1989 under
proportionate representation for the entire City. P Devarajan, R Yogarajan, Mano
Ganesan and even "Kerosene" Maheswaran have demonstrated that elected Tamil
representation is possible in Colombo.
This was not the situation in the sixties. With GG Ponnambalam and SJV
Chelvanayagam evincing an interest in enticing the oxonian prodigy to their ranks
young Lakshman like A Mahadeva before him had to look Northwards. He had
accompanied Justice EFN Gratiaen as secretary on several trips to Jaffna in the
fifties. Being secretary to the Judge was a reward for his academic brilliance in law.
Apparently an arrangement had been worked out by Prof. Nadarajah in this respect
with Gratiaen. Shinya was the predecessor to Kadirgamar in this post.It was as
Gratiaens secretary that Kadirgamar played a small role in getting HL de Silva join
the Attorney - Generals department.
These trips to Jaffna kindled his enthusiasm for discovering his roots. He also read
up vividly on Jaffna history and familiarised himself of the evolution and growth of
Jaffna. This grasp of history may have played a part in Kadirgamars attitude towards
separatism. No true intellectual could accept the half - baked versions of history
propagated by both the pro and anti - eelam forces. Later in the sixties he began
visiting Jaffna again prospecting for a constituency.
The prospective candidates enthusiasm however was short lived for two reasons.
One was that his discovery of the state of politics in the North. Tamil nationalism had
risen to the fore and demanded pandering to that concept by prospective
candidates.This narrow nationalism was not to his liking. Besides he was unable to
even speak Tamil to the extent of making political speeches.Also despite his ancestry
there were no firm roots in Jaffna. It was doubtful that Lakshman could face the
hustle and bustle of Jaffna politics let alone win .
His Jaffna based Cousins gave him their candid views on his political prospects in
Jaffna. Lakshman realised that his political chances in the peninsula were slimmer
than the Isthmus of Aanai Iravu (Elephant Pass). He was further discouraged in his
political ambition by his elder brothers in Colombo, Sam JC Kadirgamar the lawyer
and Rajanathan (Rajan) Kadirgamar the Naval Commander. Both advised him to
drop his political ambition and concentrate on his law.. Their father SJC (snr) had
established a lucrative practice in Colombo and was also the founder president of
the Ceylon Legal Society. Lakshman heeded the advice of his brothers and cousins
and began focusing on the law. There are some of Lakshmans relatives who believe
that he would have never entered politics had his two elder brothers been alive. Both
Rajan and Sam had passed away before Lakshman entered politics in 1994.
Kadirgamar then settled down firmly in Colombo and began building up a solid
practice.he specialised in commercial, industrial, labour and administrative law. Then
came the JVP insurgency of 1971. this had a profound impact on Lakshman. Though
not affected directly the JVP revolt made Lakshman feel that he should go abroad.
He felt that life in Lanka was going to turn worse with the advent of the JVP. How very
prophetic! But ironically enough the very same Lakshman who left Sri Lanka due to
the JVP found himself on the best of terms with the "rathu sahodarayas" 33 years
later. The JVP found in Lakshman a sincere friend and guide while Lakshman
recognized a "like - mindedness" on some issues.
Lakshman relocated to Britain. He pursued a legal career from 1971 to 74 during
which he showed keen interest in human rights. In 1973 he was the special
representative of Amnesty International investigating the Buddhist - Catholic violence
in Vietnam. In 1976 he became consultant to the International Labour Organization
(ILO)in Geneva. In 1978 he joined the World Intellectual property organization
(WIPO) and served as its director till 1988.He was the virtual adviser on intellectual
property to developing nations of Asia - pacific. He also travelled widely. In the early
eighties he was in an airplane that crashed in Greece. He survived miraculously by
jumping through the emergency exit. He broke several bones and was bed - ridden
for three months.
While Lakshman was abroad he received a powerful invitation in 1977 from Lalith
Athulathmudali and HW Jayewardene to return and take up politics as a "green
elephant". HW was I believe Lakshmans senior during his apprenticeship. Lakshman
turned it down.One reason was that he was looking forward to brighter prospects in
the UNO. In this however he was to be disappointed badly.
This disappointment and the fact that his daughter Ajitha had returned to Sri Lanka
to become a well - known media personality impelled Lakshman to go back home.
This he did in 1988. He returned to Colombo and reestablished his legal practice
again. He concentrated as earlier on industrial. labour and commercial law and of
course intellectual property law. Another less known fact was that Kadirgamar also
was a discreet consultant avoiding limelight in a number of cases affecting Tamil
detainees. He also proffered legal advice to some Tamils affected in the violence in
procuring compensation. This was in association with a human rights organization.
There are some Tamil human rights lawyers who are aware of this but will not dare
articulate it for fear of offending the tigers intent on vilifying Lakshman
The "second coming" of Chandrika Kumaratunga to Sri Lanka in the early nineties
heralded a new dawn for ethno - politics in the Country. There were high hopes that
a negotiated settlement to the ethnic crisis was in sight. It was a period of idealistic
fervour. It was in such a climate that Kadirgamar decided to enter politics in support
of Kumaratunga. Earlier Athulathmudali had renewed his invitation in 88 - 89 too but
Kadirgamar declined gracefully not wishing to join the tarnished UNP.
Lakshman deciding to join the SLFP in 1994 was a significant development as his
family on account of its class character had been staunch UNP loyalists. Elder
brother Sam Kadirgamar was the chief counting agent of Dudley Senanayake in
1965. Sam was offered an ambassadorship to Moscow which he declined.It was said
that had Dudley returned to power in 1970 Sam may have been Justice Minister.
Retired Naval chief Rajan Kadirgamar too was a corporation chairman in the JR
regime.
Initially the person who persuaded Kadirgamar to join politics was the late Dr.
Neelan Tiruchelvam of the TULF. He was ably supported by the lawyer Manouri
Muttetuwegama - wife of Sarath(CP) and daughter of Colvin(LSSP) - in this mission.
One of Lakshmans relatives former Bank of Ceylon chairman Rajan Asirwatham also
influenced him in this regard. Lakshman was placed on the SLFP national list. The
other big name coming into politics from academia was Gamini Lakshman Peiris.
Both Peiris and Kadirgamar played a big part in winning over voters to the SLFP
from what is considered the traditional UNP constituency.
The only Tamil candidate on the SLFP with a chance of winning the hustings was
lawyer Ketheeswaran in the Wanni. Kethees was the former TULF Urban council
chairman in Vavuniya. But he did not win. So Kumaratunga had to appoint one Tamil
as national list MP. This naturally was Lakshman. Thus one from the Kadirgamar
family became a Member of Parliament. The dominant professional strands in the
family were law, christian clergyhood, teaching and service in the armed forces.Now
for the first time an active full - time politician emerged.
The new government had a majority of one through Up Country Tamil MP
Chandrasekharan. He and Kadirgamar were the two Tamil representatives initially.
Kumaratunga offered them both deputy - minister posts as she wanted to restrict her
cabinet to twenty. Chandrasekharan accepted but not Kadir. Lakshman who rarely
projected himself as a Tamil did so then. He pointed out that his community would
consider it an insult if he was only to be given a deputy - ministership. Chandrika
agreed. It was a choice of Justice or Foreign Affairs. Lakshman wanted the latter. He
was immensely equipped for it.
Kadirgamar proved subsequently that he was the best man for the job.In the post -
independence years Defence and External affairs portfolios were the preserve of the
Prime Minister. It was under JRJ in 1977 that a departure was made and ACS
Hameed became foreign minister. It is broadly acknowledged that Kadirgamar was
the best foreign minister the Country ever had. To Sinhala hawks Kadirgamar was
the best foreign minister because he spearheaded an anti - tiger drive. But the mans
greatness was in clearing up the augean stables in the ministry due mainly to the
cronyism of Hameed and Tyronne Fernando.
It was another Tamil Sir Kandiah Vaithiyanathan as permanent secretary who set up
a modern foreign service after Independence. It was Lakshman Kadirgamar who
restructured and professionalised the service. Those who worked with him from
Permanent secretary to peon would vouch for this. It was unfortunate indeed that in
later years he was unable to check the interference of his spouse Suganthi in affairs
of the ministry. Thanks to her there are blemishes in what was a career of ability and
integrity.
Another of his achievements as foreign minister was restoring good relations with
India eroded greatly under Jayewardene and Premadasa. Of course Indo - Lanka
relations were always good under the Bandaranaike dynasty but the role of
Kadirgamar cannot be discounted in this. Many including this columnist have mocked
Kadirgamars undue haste in paying pooja to any new dispensation in New Delhi like
some vassal state. But it cannot be denied that the New Delhi - Colombo relationship
changed in favour of the latter in recent years. A brief comparison would suffice as
illustration.
In 1987 when JR's troops took Vadamaratchi and were ready to take Jaffna India
engaged in the famous airdrop to deter that. In 2000 when VP's boys took Elephant
Pass and were ready to take Jaffna the same India exerted its influence and stopped
that. Kadirgamar then convalescing in New Delhi played a very important yet
unpublicised role in that. But the powers that be wanting to show that it was the
"might" of the armed forces who prevented Jaffna falling did not highlight the India
factor. The tigers too kept mum for obvious reasons.
It must be pointed out that Kadirgamars affinity towards India and recognition of its
pivotal importance in the region was based on enlightened self - interest with
emotional underpinnings. Lakshmans father was an admirer of Mahatma Gandhi .
He was chairman of a reception committee and presided over a meeting attended by
the Mahatma in 1927 when Lakshman was yet unborn.. Lakshmans mother
Parimalam requested Gandhi for his autograph. The Mahatma looking mischievously
at the bright silk saree worn by her refused and told her that he would do so only if
she wore "ghaddar" (homespun cloth). She did not get her autograph then.
Incidently she died early when Lakshman was only eight. It was his elder sister
Eeswary who looked after him in the early years in maternal fashion. Years after her
death Parimalams expensive "Koorai" or bridal saree underwent an exalted
transformation. When the Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India was formed in
1947 and Sabapathy Kulendiran was consecrated as its first bishop SJC Kadirgamar
donated the Bishops throne now at the Vaddukkoddai Cathedral. This throne which
this columnist has seen personally was made out of good old Jaffna palmyrah though
it looks like polished ebony. The Koorai saree was used to cover seating and the
footstool. Years later Sam Kadirgamar got a velvet cover made for it.
Apart from this link with the Mahatma I am also told that two of Lakshmans close
relatives had been a disciple of the Mahatma at Sabarmathy Ashram and student at
Tagores Shanti Nikhetan. In that sense Lakshman too continued this historic limk with
India. Apart from the political aspects there was the spiritual aspect bordering on the
personal. In Lakshmans intellectual and spiritual journey Indian philosophical thought
became heavily influential. Lakshman had evolved into an inter - faith person. He
was greatly enamoured of Indias greatest son Gauthama Buddha and this was no
pretension caused by contemporary political compulsions.
This point was touched on by the historian and Lakshmans first cousin Seelan
Kadirgamar at his memorial service.This is what he reportedly observed "His
(Lakshman) religious convictions perceiving common values in the four great
religions, has struck a responsive chord in me as among others, and I wish to affirm
in the strongest terms have nothing to do with his assumption of office. As a student
of Indian history I place him in the great tradition in Indian history from Asoka to
Akbar, Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, Tagore and Gandhi - inclusive and not exclusive".
The memorial service also saw an intercession by Lakshmans daughter Ajitha. She
stated that her step mother Suganthi had refused to give them at least a part of
Lakshmans ashes to be used for Christian rites and then buried at the family plot in
Kanatte. All of Lakshmans brothers and fathers remains are buried here.
Furthermore the entire ashes had been scattered in the waters of Kalutara in the
early hours of the morning without the Kadirgamar family members
knowledge.Though Christians usually bury their dead in Sri Lanka cremation is not
taboo either. In fact Christian burial services refer to "dust to dust and ashes to
ashes".
Apart from this the Colombo grapevine is also humming with stories of how the
Kadirgamar family was sidelined in the funeral program by Lakshmans widow and
how even accommodation in the family enclosure at the State funeral was made due
to President Kumaratunga intervention. The family was excluded among the
pallbearers too and it was Suganthis relatives who participated as Lakshmans
relatives. Kadirgamars divorced wife and the mother of his only two children too was
treated shabbily at the funeral. This was in stark contrast to how Srimani
Athulathmudali conducted herself vis avis Laliths first wife at his funeral. Though the
funeral was conducted according to Buddhist rites Lakshmans son Ragee and
grandson Keira lit the pyre on one side with a "Jayewardena" nephew doing so on
the other.
Usually personal issues like these would find no place in a political commentary
based on a mans public life. In this case however the personal dimension cannot be
ignored or glossed over if one is to understand the political role played by
Kadirgamar in recent years. This is particularly necessary in the context of
continuous vilification of the man by the tiger lobby.The comment made by Ajitha
Kadirgamar Perera that her father was practically a "prisoner" during the past eight
years assumes a lot of importance in gauging his political role as Foreign Affairs
Minister at a time of intense war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.