Late Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Lakshman Kadirgamar  was considered as one of the finest Foreign Minister’s in the Sri Lankan political history . Lakshman Kadirgamar  was a prominent lawyer in the legal fraternity of Sri Lanka and he was highly respected by people of all ethnic and religious background in the country.

His forefathers were Hindus of Jaffna origin and ardent devotees of the deity of Kathirgamam shrine in the Southern tip of the country.  

However to obtain the education elaborately Kadirgamar’s family became Christians and they held even top-notch positions in Sri Lanka in various fields.

Lakshman Kadirgamar was an Old student at the prestigious Trinity College, Kandy and later he completed his higher studies at the Oxford University in London. While he was following his higher studies at Oxford, he even elected as the President of the Oxford student’s Union.

During his tenure as Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka he was even invited by the Oxford student’s union to address at one of their academic events. So while addressing at the event Lakshman Kadirgamar mentioned about himself as “This cake was baked in Sri Lanka and the icing was done in London”.

Very recently a biography of late Kadirgamar was also published under the title `The cake baked in Sri Lanka’  

Laksman Kadirgamar’s elder brother Admiral Rajan Kadirgamar was the first Navy Commander of Lankan origin when the country gained independence from the British.

Political observers believe since Kadirgamar had the stature as a highly respected politician and an intellectual, even the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) would have used his good offices to fulfill the political aspirations of the Tamils. Whereas they went ahead with their confrontational and adamant nature in dealing with the men and matters they had faced with.

If Kadirgamar had embarked on dealing with the issues pertaining to the political aspirations of Tamils, not only the local politicians and even the international community would have been supportive to the efforts Kadirgamar would have taken.

However it was very unfortunate that he was shot dead by a sniper while he was swimming in the swimming pool at his residence in Colombo on August 12, 2005.   

Lakshman Kadirgamar was instrumental in making Vesak Buddha Purnima Day as United Nation’s Observance day.  

Soon after his death Lakshman Kadirgamar institute was established at a prestigious location in Colombo in honor of him and the Lankans of all walks of life praised Lakshman Kadirgamar  for initiating  Vesak-Buddha Purima as United Nation’s observance day.  A statue has also been erected in memory of Lakshman Kadirgamar at the Liberty junction at Colpetty,  Colombo.

Late Lakshman Kadirgamar who spearheaded the initiative to designate Vesak as a United Nations Observance Day, and to acknowledge the contribution of Buddhism to spirituality, he made a proposal at the 54th session of the UN General Assembly in 1999. His proposal to the UN was based on an earlier recommendation made at the World Buddhist Conference held in Colombo in 1998. Accordingly, in 1999, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted Resolution 54/115.

Earlier this month, on 6 May 2025, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake delivering the keynote address at the 20th United Nations Day of Vesak Celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, held under the theme Solidarity and Tolerance for Human Dignity: Buddhist Wisdom for World Peace and Sustainable Development, highlighted the enduring relevance of Buddhist philosophy in fostering global peace and reconciliation. The President recalled : “In 1999, a proposal was submitted at the United Nations General Assembly to officially recognise Vesak Day as an international observance. This proposal was presented by the late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. By the year 2000, the United Nations officially declared Vesak Day an internationally recognised observance. Today, we gratefully remember both the Buddhist and non-Buddhist communities who supported this noble initiative”.

Last year, the Executive Board of UNESCO in Paris, at its 219^th session, was to also adopt by acclamation a Decision to commemorate the International Day of Vesak at UNESCO in alignment with the Organization’s core mandate of promoting global peace, intercultural dialogue and the preservation of cultural heritage.

Therefore in the backdrop of Vesak celebrations in Sri Lanka is being  presently observed in a glittering manner with colorful illuminated decorations and free food stalls, the dignitary and the statesman to be remembered at this juncture is none other than Late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.