Business

How Yogendra Duraiswamy stood up to power and shone in public service

Published

2 years ago

2024/12/3

Book Review

Title – MY DIPLOMAT (Second Edition)
Author – Sivanandini Duraiswamy
Publisher – Jam Fruit Tree Publications
Reviewed by Lynn Ockersz

The right-thinking of Sri Lanka and the world over continue to recoil with horror on recollecting the vandalizing and burning of the Jaffna Public Library in the lead-up to the District Development Council (DDC) election in Northern Sri Lanka in mid-1981. The outrage was an acid test of the integrity of the J.R. Jayewardene regime of the time as well that of the country’s law-enforcers and public officials.

The regime concerned and sections of those entrusted with keeping the law emerged from the veritable hell fires which were the torching of the Library, utterly disgraced. But this was not the case with, Yogendra Duraiswamy (YD), the senior public servant and Returning Officer in charge of conducting the relevant poll.

YD was verbally urged strongly by the central authorities to replace some of the officials under him who were charged with overseeing the poll with some others who were hand-picked stooges of the powers-that-were. But his answer was a firm ‘No’. That is, YD listened only to the voice of his conscience and was undeterred from carrying out his duty.

However, on receiving written orders from the ‘top’, Duraiswamy, as a public servant who was bound to carry out written instructions from the state, was compelled to enable those officials who were recommended by the state to oversee the election. The regime could have been described as ‘having won the day’ by virtue of exercising its might, but YD came out of the crisis with his personal integrity firmly intact. He once again proved that his honesty was unimpeachable.

Meanwhile, some policemen who were on duty in the polling booth area were gunned-down in cold blood by separatist militants. This triggered mind-numbing violence on the part of the rest of the policemen at the location, who torched the venerated library in a maniacal frenzy. Thus came to pass a drastic degeneration of the law and order situation in the country.

The torching of the Library contributed in no small measure towards plunging Sri Lanka into chronic and continuous lawlessness. This incident, among other divisive developments, set the stage for the 30-year war and the dramatic disruption of racial harmony in Sri Lanka.

Thanks to ‘MY DIPLOMAT’ (Second Edition), a highly readable and engaging biography of the well-known Sri Lankan and international civil servant Yogendra Duraiswamy by his widow, Sivanandini Duraiswamy, the world is in a position today to not only gain some penetrating insights into the politics of Sri Lanka but to also have a veritable panoramic view of the world and its affairs of the decades past.

The fact that YD was in Sri Lanka’s Foreign Service for long years and was much traveled before he returned to Sri Lanka and took up some important positions in the local administrative service, enabled his wife and lifelong companion, Sivanandini, to provide the reader of the biography with a record of the world in all its entrancing aspects and excitement, since she was by his side and experienced places and times at first hand.

The biographer transports the reader into geographical spaces that are not only exhilarating for their rare beauty and aesthetic appeal but also for their historic importance and their centrality in the evolution of the modern world. Just some of these countries and places are: the UN in New York, Italy, Peking, Yugoslavia, Iraq, Iran and Jordan. All these places and more are made to come alive for us by Sivanandini’s fecund and flowing pen.

During his Jaffna years in particular, YD endured many a storm in the public sphere with serenity and dignity. Unbowed by power he did not hesitate to point out to those in authority in politics and the law enforcement machinery the error of their ways. Thereby he helped considerably in promoting ethnic and religious peace. A marked strength of ‘My Diplomat’ is that it contains a multiplicity of public pronouncements YD made in respect of the ethnic conflict and its resolution. In the latter respect as well the biography is a treasury of wisdom.

The biography cantains most of the statements YD made in relation to Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict and its resolution and if the reader is seeking expert knowledge on how the conflict should be resolved peacefully and in fairness to the communities concerned this biography would prove immensely handy. Until the very end, YD was a promoter of ethnic peace and ‘My Diplomat’ proves this conclusively.

Besides, his intellectuality and wisdom, YD was a rare and exemplary human and this biography by his doting widow says it all very eloquently and simply. In the chapter titled, ‘Yogendra’ Sivanandini writes thus: ‘Armed with faith and discipline he went ahead in life, taking Naresh (their son) and me along with him. Our life together was grand and beautiful because we lived it honestly, with dignity and decorum. Troubles came our way many times, but Yoga was always there facing them with equanimity and steering us through difficulties.’

YD’s life then, was one that was well lived. He was a role model, whose public and personal life revolved around the foremost ethical values and principles. Among the conscientious of the world, his beneficial influence will endure over time.

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Business

SLT-MOBITEL driving Sri Lanka’s economic resilience through digital infrastructure

Published

11 hours ago

2026/09/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

SLT-MOBITEL marks its triple triumph at the National Business Excellence Awards 2026

Corporate accolades underscore the alignment between its operational excellence and national development

In an era where national competitiveness is intrinsically tied to digital connectivity, strengthening the country’s digital backbone has become an urgent priority. Within this context, the evolving role of Sri Lanka’s leading telecommunications provider, SLT-MOBITEL, offers valuable insight into how technological infrastructure can underpin broader economic resilience.

Telecommunications and digital networks are foundational to economic transformation. By expanding high-speed broadband access, upgrading enterprise cloud capabilities, and bridging the urban-rural connectivity divide, SLT-MOBITEL helps reduce business transaction costs, streamline supply chains, and enable micro, small, and medium enterprises to reach global markets.

Recent corporate accolades further underscore this alignment between operational excellence and national development. SLT-MOBITEL’s triple triumph at the National Business Excellence Awards 2026 – winning in the Infrastructure and Utilities sector, Performance Management, and ICT Services categories – highlights its growing impact. Notably, the recognition of eChannelling’s contributions to digital healthcare reflects a broader strategic pivot toward integrated technology solutions.

“Institutional efficiency of this nature is critical for attracting foreign direct investment, as global partners increasingly assess a country’s digital maturity and systemic stability before committing capital,” noted industry observers.

Moreover, the company’s transition from a conventional telecom utility to a comprehensive digital solutions provider aligns seamlessly with Sri Lanka’s national digitalisation agenda. As the country pursues public sector modernisation, enhanced e-governance, and a competitive knowledge economy, the private sector must step up to deliver secure, scalable, and future-ready networks. Investments in data centres, cybersecurity frameworks, and advanced ICT infrastructure act as strategic buffers, ensuring that Sri Lanka’s economic apparatus remains agile and resilient amid future global uncertainties.

However, industry experts caution that while these achievements are commendable, SLT-MOBITEL still has a considerable distance to cover in fully enabling a truly digital economy.

Business

Port City Colombo strengthens Gulf investment ties at Dubai diplomatic engagement

Published

11 hours ago

2026/09/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

The panel discussion at the engagement

Port City Colombo (PCC) took a prominent role as Platinum Sponsor at the second edition of Sri Lanka Beyond Your Dreams, a high-level diplomatic and investment engagement hosted by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. The event, held on 2nd September 2026 at the Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City, brought together over 400 senior UAE-based business leaders, investors, diplomats, and institutional stakeholders, alongside Sri Lanka’s most senior government representatives.

The gathering was graced by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, as Guest of Honour, and Vijitha Herath, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. A high-level Sri Lankan delegation – including the Secretary to the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the Board of Investment, the Chairman of the Export Development Board, and the Director General of Commerce – underscored the government’s strong commitment to deepening economic diplomacy with the UAE.

In his keynote address, Minister Herath reaffirmed the centuries-old ties between Sri Lanka and the Arab region, emphasising the UAE’s vital role as a key economic partner. He stressed the urgency of finalising a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE, which would establish a robust framework to elevate trade, investment, and bilateral cooperation. Declaring Sri Lanka “open and ready for business,” he positioned Port City Colombo as the physical embodiment of this economic mission – a modern Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with a dedicated legal framework and competitive incentives, offering UAE investors a natural gateway to South Asia while maintaining strong Gulf connectivity.

Business

American Premium Water strikes Gold at Dragons of Sri Lanka 2026

Published

12 hours ago

2026/09/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

The achievements are particularly significant given that the company’s debut at the Dragons awards has resulted in four Dragons across four categories.

American Premium Water has secured four wins at Dragons of Sri Lanka Awards 2026, including three Gold Dragons and one Black Dragon, marking a significant milestone for the brand following its relaunch last year.

Part of the prestigious Dragons of Asia awards, Dragons of Sri Lanka brings the program’s regional platform to the local market, celebrating creative and effective marketing communications, with entries evaluated on strategic thinking, creativity, execution and impact. Established in 2000, Dragons of Asia is one of Asia’s premier results-driven marketing awards programs.

For American Premium Water, the achievements are particularly significant given that the company’s debut at the Dragons awards has resulted in four Dragons across four categories. In the distinction of Gold Dragons, American Premium Water was recognized across three categories including Product Launch or Re Launch, Cause, Environment or Sustainability and Creative Excellence while the Black Dragon was awarded in recognition of Small Budget.

Competing alongside leading brands and agencies in Sri Lanka, American Premium Water’s four wins demonstrate the strength and effectiveness of its recent work. Winning three Gold Dragons across three distinct categories highlights the breadth of the brand’s achievements, while the Black Dragon for Small Budget further emphasizes its ability to create meaningful impact through focused and efficient investment.