Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris - birthday tribute:
Credible and an intellectual politician
Leelananda IHALAGAMAGE
Prof. Gamini Lakshman Peiris born on August 13, 1946, known as G L Peiris or otherwise (GL) is a Sri Lankan politician and an academic. Current Cabinet Minister of External Affairs and Member of Parliament of Sri Lanka he is a very strong character, one who can be compared only to late Lakshman Kadirgamar, Sri Lankan diplomat politician and a distinguished lawyer and an international humanitarian.
The father of Prof. G.L. Peiris was Glanville Peiris, an intellectual diplomat who was the former Director General of External Affairs, Ceylon's Ambassador to West Germany and Myanmar and Lakshmi Chandrika Peiris was his mother. His grandparents were Louis Margaret and Walter Salgado. Not only the parents but also his grandparents had influenced a lot in shaping his life, upbringing and character mouldings. His uncle was the former Cabinet Secretary Bernard Peiris.
The reputed politician of Horana, Wilmot A Perera who pioneered the establishment of Sri Palee College in Horana was a close relative of Prof. G.L. Peiris. His grandfather Walter Salgado's uncle was Sir Susantha de Fonseka, another reputed politician of the past.
Prof. Peiris was a credible intellectual when entered politics in early 1990s and also a gentleman politician who created a new political culture in the country. Educated at St. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia, he entered the Law Faculty of the University of Ceylon, Colombo, and won the Mudliyar Edmond Peiris award. Winning the Rhodes Scholarship read for his Ph.D at New College, Oxford graduating in 1971 and he gained a second Ph.D. from Colombo University in 1974. Considering his academic career, he is an academic, author, university pedagogue and had completed both doctorates by the relatively young age of 28.
Joining the academic staff of the University of Ceylon, he went on to become a Professor of Law and the Dean of the Faculty of Law before taking office as the second Vice Chancellor of the Colombo University following the assassination of Prof. Stanley Wijesundera during the height of the 1987-89 JVP insurrection. He served as Vice Chancellor from 1988 to 1994 until leaving to take up politics.
He has Fellowships of the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and London. He was a Rhodes Scholar of the University of Oxford (1968-1971) and All Souls College, also of the University of Oxford in 1980-1981. He was a visiting Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies of the University of London in 1984, distinguished Visiting Fellow of Christ College, University of Cambridge and SMUTS Visiting Fellow in Commonwealth Studies at the Cambridge University (1985-1986). He was also Associate Member of the International Academy of Comparative Law in 1980 and Senior British Council Fellow in 1987.
Prof. Peiris held many responsible positions and portfolios during the past regimes:
Export Development and International Trade Minister
Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister
Ethnic Affairs and National Integration Minister
Enterprise Development, Investment Promotion and Industrial Policy Minister
Deputy Finance Minister
Industrial Development Minister
All Party Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms, Chairman
Leader of the Government Delegation in six rounds of talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, September 2002-March 2003. Other than the above portfolios, he also held 20 other prestigious positions in the public sector when he was recognized as an important member of such Institutions.
As the Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Ethnic Affairs and National Integration Minister, he played a major role in the new Draft Constitution and its proposed implementation. He chaired a record 77 meetings of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Affairs.
As Deputy Finance Minister, he presented five national budgets in Parliament from 1995 to 1999. He led numerous delegations to the World Bank and the IMF and also to the Asian Development Bank.
Professor Peiris could save the country because of his softness and strong negotiation skills. After the government won the war, Prof Peiris was appointed as External Affairs Minister during its second term started in 2010 April; that is, one year after the 30-year civil war ended in May 2009.
Prof. Peiris is honoured as a well-known politician due to his being very honest administrator, maintaining his credibility specially without wasting public funds and very concerned about valuables belonging to the public. Soon after he assumed portfolio as a Cabinet Minister in 2000 he refused to take over the luxury vehicle which was used by the former minister at the same Ministry. He was always respected his simple life - his theory, his philosophy - rather different than others.
He never believed in maintaining a luxury life both in his office and outside but sticking only to the essentials to keep his dignity and credibility or otherwise quietly carried out his portfolio setting a good example to other high rank government officers especially for diplomats abroad.
He performs his duties as a great administrator and a leader proven as one of the great gentleman politicians. I recall, one good example in this regard - when he used three mottos as one slogan which read as "clean, educated and intellectual" with the support of his close associates in the 2000 election campaign in Colombo district where he easily won the seat obtaining 136,000 votes.
Professor Peiris himself built up his own image by illuminating his career and maintaining dignity as a distinguished person who assumes a very important portfolio.
He might have gained all these qualities from his father late Glanville Peiris, a most respectable career diplomat.
Prof. Peiris has written series of articles on various subjects including judicial proceedings, legal privilege, natural justice, legal procedures, fundamental rights, etc. to popular and recognized international newspapers abroad where he was honoured as a professional feature writer.
A top official at the Foreign Affairs Ministry told that whenever Prof. Peiris makes an official visit to any country under the guidance of the President, soon after going through the CV of Professor, Heads of States and Heads of any Institutions abroad grant permission for such appointment without any delay.
When considering the talents of Prof. Peiris and the tasks performed by him, he has become a great asset to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his government. The country is really proud of such sons of the soil. He is till facing bravely the challenges posed by the international community to Sri Lanka especially in the sphere of external affairs.
We take this opportunity to wish him "All Success for the Long Life Ahead" to render his loyal service to the country as well as to the world.
Source: Daily News (13 August 2011)
