Eric Lavertu, Former French Ambassador in Sri Lanka

By: Kumar De Silva

The newly translated French version of historian and television personality Yasmin Rajapakse’s narrative ‘The Odyssey and Living Legacy of Sieur de La Nérolle’ was launched at the Sorbonne University in Paris recently amid a large and distinguished gathering. Among them were former French Ambassadors in Sri Lanka, Michel Lumaux and Eric Lavertu, and their spouses, several French historians, friends, and well-wishers.

Hosted by Dr. Nadeera Rajapakse (Maître de Conférences, Assistant Professor, Université Paris 1, Panthéon-Sorbonne), the book was introduced by Marie-Helene Esteve (Author and a former Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of France in Sri Lanka, and Director of the Alliance Française Colombo). The keynote address was made by Eric P. Meyer (Emeritus Professor of Indian History at the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations, Paris) 

Readings from the book were done by Lise (11) and Julie Mosson (09), the author’s granddaughters who stole the show with their own beautiful interpretation of extracts from the book. Adding legend to history and a Sri Lankan flavor to the soiree, Yasmin recited two verses of the famous ‘Kavi’ exchanged by Pedro de Gascogne (Adigar / Prime Minister circa 1709 of King Narendrasinghe) and the Queen of Kandy. 

The soiree ended with the audience being treated to a recording of a live performance by the 11th generation descendants of Sieur La Nérolle, the De Lanerolle Brothers, Rohan, and Ishan, singing the classic ‘La Mer’ in French and ‘Master Sir’ in Sinhala. This rare historical narrative linking the two countries is published in France by ‘Les Indes Savantes,’ the French version is titled:  La Nérolle, Officier huguenot Charentais de l’escadre de Perse à Ceylan (1672). The book is translated to French by Gerard Narjoux, a former Deputy Director of the Alliance Française Colombo (1983-1989) and is also available online at the FNAC, one of France’s largest retail chain of stores.

The publication of this book in France is of great significance to Franco - Sri Lankan historical and cultural ties, and especially to the Alliance Française. It is the result of monumental research done over more than fifteen years in France, England, and Sri Lanka. The original English version, The Odyssey, and Living Legacy of sieur de La Nérolle, published by Neptune Publications (Pvt) Ltd was launched in Colombo in 2019. Yasmin Rajapakse and I were the Co-Presenters and Co-Producers of the weekly French television programme ‘Bonsoir’ on ITN since 1986.

In January 2019, the Government of France awarded Yasmin with ‘Chevalier de l’ordre des Arts et Lettres,” in recognition of her contribution to promoting the French language and culture in Sri Lanka.