Welcome speech by Mrs. Suganthie Kadirgamar on the occasion of the third Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture last week
by Suganthie Kadirgamar
(October 21, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) It is my onerous duty today to welcome all of you to the Lakshman Kadirgamar, third Memorial Lecture.
Alexander Downer, we are honored to have you deliver the 2008 Memorial Lecture in memory of my late husband, Lakshman Kadirgamar, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka. Downer is the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia, and is currently the Special Envoy of the United Nations Organization to Cyprus. He is a highly regarded professional, a respected scholar, a close friend of my late husband, and a true and sincere friend of Sri Lanka.
Mr. Downer first visited Sri Lanka when he was four years old, and stayed with his parents at the Galle Face Hotel. On that occasion his travel destination was not of his own choice, but on the 24th of July 1997 by choice, he visited Sri Lanka as Australia’s Foreign Minister on the invitation of my late husband.
I extend to Downer and his charming wife a very warm welcome.
Mr. Downer entered the Federal Parliament of Australia in 1984. Since then he has been the Shadow Minister of Arts, Heritage and Environment, the Shadow Minister for Housing, Small Business and Customs, the Shadow Minister for Trade and Trade Negotiations, the Shadow Minister for Defence, the Shadow Treasurer, the Leader of the Opposition and the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs. In March 1996 on the election of the Liberal-National Party coalition to Government he stepped out of the shadows into the limelight when he was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs which position he held until November 2007.
Mr. Downer, you are here today to honour your friend who laid down his life for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. We are commemorating your friend whose life was snatched by the cruelty of senseless terrorism. Your presence is a fitting tribute to the memory of Lakshman.
Mr. Downer, you may recall my late husband stated in his speech at the banquet in your honour, during your visit to Sri Lanka on 24th July 1997.
I quote,
"I come finally to a matter that is uppermost in the minds of the Government and people of Sri Lanka at this critical juncture in our history. We are the victims of terrorism. Democracies are particularly vulnerable to the activities of terrorists. They are able to strike indiscriminately with wanton brutality against civilian targets. Democratic Governments cannot, however, respond in kind as they cannot compromise democratic values and fundamental freedoms. This dilemma makes collective action by democratic Governments imperative. Only such joint action will be effective against terrorism whether such acts are funded, initiated or committed in Atlanta, in Colombo, in Manchester, in Melbourne, in Tokyo or in Trincomalee. At last, important Western countries have woken up to the fact that terrorism is a global menace that can only be addressed globally. Thoughtful practical measures on international action against the abuse of asylum, fund raising, sharing of expertise and information have at last emerged. These ideas are particularly valuable in the current context of terrorist groups operating behind a deceptive façade of innocent looking front organizations.
Our two countries, as democracies, must always stand together. We cannot yield to terrorism. No person, community, party or state can fail to condemn the murder of the elected representatives of the people in any country by those who are committed to the use of force to achieve their political objectives. As democratic countries it is our duty to generate confidence amongst our people so that any pretext for terrorism is eliminated. Minority concerns need to be respected. Pluralistic societies have to be established and protected. Both in Australia and in Sri Lanka tolerance and respect for democratic values remain hallmarks of political and social life.
Your Excellency, the Government of Sri Lanka was deeply touched and greatly encouraged by your recent statement made on the floor of the Federal Parliament in regard to the activities of the pro-LTTE lobby in Australia. I quote what you said on that occasion:
Quote
"We frequently get requests for a meeting with me from representatives of the Sri Lankan Tamil community. I want to make it clear to the House that my position is that I will not see Tamil groups in Australia, unless they indicate to me in writing that they condemn terrorism and political violence"
Unquote.
If only other political leaders in other countries in other parts of the world who are also committed in theory to the preservation of democratic values and systems of Government would make similar pronouncements we would get that much closer to neutralizing those who practice terror by the gun and the bomb". Unquote.
Mr. Downer, you will also recall that Lakshman stated in the same speech at the banquet given in your honour that there is a firm commitment of the Government of Sri Lanka to seek by all possible means a peaceful, political solution to our ethnic problem and that those who are committed to dividing our country by force will be met with force in order to dis-abuse their minds of the unrealistic belief that a solution to our problem can be found by force only.
Mr. Downer, I thank you once again very sincerely for accepting my invitation on behalf of the Board of Management of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies to honour my late husband.
I thank you Ladies and Gentlemen for your presence here today to listen to one of Australia’s most eminent sons.
May the ideals for which Lakshman laid down his life, live forever. - Sri Lanka Guardian
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