LKI marks 19th death anniversary of Lakshman Kadirgamar

Kadirgamar held the office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for over a decade and is one of the most respected political leaders in Sri Lanka’s recent history. He held the position of Foreign Minister until his assassination by the LTTE on August 12, 2005

The Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKI) held an almsgiving on August 12 at its institute to invoke merit to the late Lakshman Kadirgamar, PC, former Minister of Foreign Affairs on the occasion of marking his 19th death anniversary.

According to a press release issued by LKI, a sermon (anusasana) was made by the Chief Incumbent of the Sri Sambodhi Viharaya, Colombo. Boralande Vajiraggnana Thera paid tribute to the life and legacy of the Late Kadirgamar highlighting his statesmanship and dedication to the country.

Following the almsgiving, a chanting (pirith) sermon was held to invoke blessings to the Institute.

Aruni Wijewardane, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Suganthie Kadirgamar, wife of the late Minister and Life Member of the LKI Board of Management, Members of the LKI Board of Management Thusantha Wijemanna and Dr. Harinda Vidanage, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, Executive Director of LKI, H. E. Admiral Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne (Retired), Sri Lanka High Commissioner to Pakistan, senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and LKI staff participated in this ceremony.

Kadirgamar was born in Colombo on 12 April, 1932. He completed his secondary education at Trinity College, Kandy, where he excelled in academics and in a wide range of sports, including cricket, rugby, and athletics. In 1950, he studied law at the University of Ceylon and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in 1953. Kadirgamar was admitted to the Ceylon Bar in 1955. He later pursued his graduate studies at Balliol College, University of Oxford, where he became President of the Oxford Union in 1959 and obtained a Bachelor of Letters (B.Litt.) in 1960. He pursued legal practice both in Sri Lanka as an Advocate and the UK as a Barrister of the Inner Temple and was appointed as a President’s Counsel in 1991. In 2004 he was appointed as an Honourary Bencher of The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.

The pictures show events at an almsgiving and other religious rituals conducted in the name of Lakshman Kadirgamar at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKI) held on August 12 to mark the 19th death anniversary of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs

Kadirgamar held the office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for over a decade and is one of the most respected political leaders in Sri Lanka’s recent history. He held the position of Foreign Minister until his assassination by the LTTE on 12 August 12, 2005.