Celebration of Sri Lanka’s National Day 1981 Feb 04

Filed under asia-oceana | Tributes and Expressions of appreciation

 Sri Lanka’s national day was celebrated 4 February 1981 by the meditation group, with H.E. Mr. Ignatius Benedict Fonseka, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka, serving as guest speaker.

Shraddha

An excellent film on Ananda Coomaraswamy, an authority on the art of Sri Lanka and India, was also shown. Following are excerpts from Ambassador Fonseka’s talk.

H.E. Mr. Ignatius Benedict Fonseka, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the Unit ed Nations:

Shraddha

Sri Chinmoy, friends of the meditation group, friends of Sri Lanka, I am grateful to Sri Chinmoy and those members of the meditation group who have organised this function here today to mark the national day, the Independence Day of Sri Lanka. As you might know, Sri Lanka celebrates today the 33rd anniversary of its independence.

Perhaps this is not quite the occasion for me to give you a resume of Sri Lanka’s history. We are not much different from a large number of the countries which constitute the membership of the United Nations. We were an independent country. We went through that rather common period of colonial rule, and we resumed our independence in 1948. We were admitted to the membership of the United Nations in December 1955 and in the 26 years that have elapsed we, like many of the small countries that today constitute the very substantial membership of the United Nations, have tried, to the best of our ability, to adhere, to contribute to the objectives for which this organisation was formed in 1945.

The assessment of that contribution is not really for us to make. There are certain constraints or limitations on what any country can contribute to the U.N. Those constraints are understandably even greater when it comes to the smaller countries of the United Nations. Nevertheless, this organisation remains the only body in which all the countries of the world-irrespective of their size, their wealth and their power-can make their impact felt; can exercise their influence, however small or great that might be. The policy that the Government of Sri Lanka has followed in its relations with other states over the years is one that seeks friendship with all.

 

Shraddha

You might say that this is an objective that no other country denies, but we try to give some content to that policy in the overall outlook we take, in the positions we adopt in the various forums of the 12 V.N. From time to time we have been able to play a role which we hope has been of use or value to different countries of the Organisation, especially to the countries our our region. In the years before us that will remain our objective. This year, 1981, is of rather great significance to us as a country, not only as a member of the U.N.. but also in another sphere which I have no doubt will be of interest to you.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the introduction of universal adult franchise in Sri Lanka. Since then, in 1959, we lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. As a result of the introduction of universal adult franchise, we have had a system of government under which there are regular elections. If any evidence is required as to the validity of those elections, of the seven national elections which we have held since 1931, the people changed the government in five of those elections.

 

Shraddha

I emphasise this because the system of democracy is something which the members of the U.N. regard as important. That is the basis on which the main body of the U.N., the General Assembly, functions.

We will now see a film about one of the great Sri Lankan’s, Ananda Coomaraswamy*. He was not somebody who was in the political realm.

He was a man of scholarship, who delved deeply into the history and culture of his own country, and went beyond to look into the history and culture of the people of that whole subcontinent and area. As often happens, a prophet is not recognised in his own country.

It was not that we failed to recognise him, but rather that the priorities or preoccupations of our people at that time did not allow him to be given the recognition which he deserved. As a consequence, he came to this country where he pursued his study into the culture and history of the people of that part of the world.


*Note: Ananda Coomaraswamy ( Ānanda Kentiś Muthū Kumāraswāmī; (22 August 1877 − 9 September 1947) was a Ceylonese Tamil philosopher and Metaphysicist, as well as a pioneering historian and philosopher of Indian art, particularly art history and symbolism, and an early interpreter of Indian culture to the West. In particular, he is described as “the groundbreaking theorist who was largely responsible for introducing ancient Indian art to the West.”


Sri Lanka

Composed on Feb. 3rd, 1978

 Lyrics:

Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka!
You are mahanandam danka.
Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka!
Lord Buddha’s august Grace,Vivekananda’s victory-faceYou love and treasure beyond measure.
O ancient singhal dwip,
Your body-soul-beauty deep.

- words and music by Sri Chinmoy, Song in: India, My India

 


Shraddha

Shraddha

PDF format of report in periodic Bulletin : “Meditation at the United Nations”  Feb 1981

bu-scpmaun-1981-02-27-vol-09-n-02-feb-ocr-opt.pdf

See Page-images 13  to 15

Gallery 2 below is jpg format


Letter received after event:

PERMANENT MISSION OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA TO THE UNITED NATIONS 

630 THIRD AVENUE (20th FLOOR) NEW YORK, N. Y. 10017
5 February 1981

 Dear Sri Chinmoy,

I would like to express my deep appreciation for the work and efforts which you and Mr.  Keefe undertook to arange a programme at the Meditation Centre on the occasion of Sri Lanka’s National Day.

May I also through you convey my thanks to the young ladies and well-wishers who joined in the singing of a musical tribute to Sri  Lanka and our National Anthem.

 I am most indebted to all of you. •

Yours sincerely, I. B. Fonseka Permanent Representative


Gallery 1  Photos from event


Gallery 2: 

JPG scanned page images 13 to 15 “Meditation at the UN” Feb  1981