Your Excellency has gone round the globe as the Mother India's representative. You started your diplomatic career in July 1977 from Singapore and thereafter went around China, U.S.A., Nepal, Hong Kong, Malaysia and coming to Sri Lanka and giving your credentials to His Excellency President of Sri Lanka on 23rd September 2009.

Your Excellency you have been representing a country which, as stated in Your Country's President's message on the last Republic Day has changed more in last six decades than in previous six centuries and the foundations were laid through your country's constitution which represented a second liberation from the stranglehold of traditional inequity in gender case community et. That same liberation from the stranglehold of inequity the people of this country is still hoping to have for last six decades. Sri Lanka needs to learn from India. Indian's assistance and guidance to Sri Lanka in that respect is indispensable

Your Excellency, always exhibited Your Leadership skills. You have the personality to impress the others and win them by your persuasive diplomatic talents. Leaders claim the steps of success because their strength work enough to get them there. Your personality coupled with capabilities will no doubt take many more steps up.

Your Excellency's power of motivation takes your team also on the ladder of success. MANY IDEAS GROW WHEN TRANSPLANTED INTO ANOTHER MIND THAN IN THE ONE WHERE THEY SPRUNG UP � so said OLIVER HOLMES an American Author. Not only you plant your ideas in the others' minds you ensure that they are fertilized also.

Your Excellency I must confess that I was also a victim of that motivation many times � sorry not a victim but I must correct it to say, fortunately a beneficiary.

Another important unique characteristic aspect which I observed is that you had never been arrogant but always humble and friendly.

You were really an image of quality leadership by never demanding respect but you knew how to command the respect that you always successfully acquired with your pleasant smiles.

YOU HAVE BEEN AN ACHIEVER during this short period of three years. I remember reading somewhere, PEOPLE KNOW YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE NOT WHAT YOU PLAN TO DO.

PEACE IS NOT THE MERE ABSENCE OF WAR, IT IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRONG FELLOW-FEELING, AN HONEST APPRECIATION OF OTHER PEOPLE'S IDEAS AND VALUES - 
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan (Page 358)

The Basic Writing of Radhakrishnan

An International Buddhist Organisation �������� that is Buddha's Light International Association ���. at its conference held last year on 28th April 2012 exactly one year ago resolved inter alia

TO DEVELOP FELLOWSHIP OF EQUALITY AND CO-EXISTENCE.

The Resolution said:

MOST TROUBLES in the world arise out of discrimination, whether this is between male or female, rich or poor, knowledgeable and ignorant. As long as there is discrimination there will be contradiction and dispute. How can true harmony exist in this world if we are constantly faced with disputes and arguments? WORLD PEACE AND HAPPINESS CAN BE ACHIEVED only through the eradication of prejudice and the advancement of EQUALITY and FELLOWSHIP.

In your shuttle diplomatic way you always wished to have TRUE HARMONY and AVOID DISCRIMINATION. I know that you were pleased to see all the communities in Sri Lanka are well represented in our Sri Lanka India Society when you found that the holders of the key positions in our Society reflected that. Illiyas made the welcome address. I am here now. Sampath will propose the Vote of Thanks.

Your Excellency said on the last Indian Republic Day that both Sri Lankan and Indian Governments took stock of the entire gamut of relationship and agreed on many initiatives. Your Excellency underlined the strong commitment on both sides to renew take the relationship renew and enlarge it continuously.

In that message Your Excellency also called for people to people LINKS constituting the hard rock of relationship between the two countries.

Of course we know the dynamic role played by you in that respect.

"The greatest of all links between India and Ceylon is Buddhism. The spread of Buddhism in Ceylon was an event no less of historical then of cultural and spiritual significance. The history of Ceyon before Tissa (247 � 207 B.C.) in whose reign the religion was introduced in the Island is a jumble of history and legend���."

INDIA SIGNALISED HER ATTAINMENT OF INDEPENDENCE BY ADOPTING THE ASOKA CHAKRA on her tricolour and the Asoka Lion Capital as the State Emblem. The steady march of India towards the welfare state founded on

PEACE TOLERANCE And EQUALITY

of man preached and practiced by Emperor Asoka has justified the selection of the symbol and emblem.

Of course it is Emperor Asoka's son by the name of MAHINDA whose day of arrival is remembered as Poson every year.

DR RAGHAVAN (Page 72)