By Dayan Jayatilleka – *
Dr Dayan Jayatilleka
I should say Excellencies, but I consider you friends before diplomats. Thank you very much for being here today.
I know it is not the usual place that we meet. It is not UNESCO; it is not one of our usual locations in town. We thought that this was a picturesque little place which was suitable for our gathering. I was told by my Research Officer that this is in fact the house of the mistress of Napoleon, so I hope that our distinguished representatives from the Holy See will not mind this.
So after two years, we leave Paris, and as all of you know Paris is not an easy place to leave. It is a place that makes an indelible impression. But it is not only the place; it is also our friends from the other Missions to France and from UNESCO.
We have been truly enriched by our experience here. We have valued in France the experience of civilité in everyday life, as in diplomacy. We have had a very constructive and very warm friendly relationship with France during my period here. Our interactions have been excellent. And so also the many adventures we have had at UNESCO. These have enriched us tremendously.
During the two years that we spent here, one of the landmark events has been of course the historic recognition of Palestine at UNESCO, which was the opening of the door through which the UNGA vote has followed this year. Whatever our positions were, we were all part of that moment in one way or the other and this we will always remember.
Thank you for your friendship, for your solidarity and for everything we have learned from you. Every one of these faces has with it a positive memory of friendship and of example. We have learned so much about the world and culture, because culture is really global and I think we in UNESCO have proved that.
Today is also an example of the true universality of our values and our culture, which has a place for diversity. If there is anything that unites us is the humanism that we all share in our outlooks; a humanism which, of course, has different accents and different emphases depending on our trajectories.
So on behalf of Sanja and myself, a very warm thank you to all of you. Thank you all for your gifts, and the gift that matters most, the gift of friendship.
*Farewell speech of Ambassador Jayatilleka . Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka hosted a farewell reception, at the Maison Marie Walewska for diplomats, French officials and academicians.
Ambassador Jayatilleka and Sanja Jayatilleka with Rakesh Sood, Ambassador of India to France (right) and former Secretary General of SAARC (left)
Ambassador Jayatilleka and Sanja ayatilleka with Eleonora Mitrofanova (Ambassador of Russia to UNESCO)
Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka with You Shaozhong (Ambassador of China to UNESCO)
Ramani F / December 18, 2012
“WE”? what does he think, he’s royalty to refer to himself in the plural?
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Coconut Donkey / December 18, 2012
Illung kanewane.. If you want to diss someone, at least get it right.
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Don Stanley / December 18, 2012
Since when has Colombo Telegraph become Dayan J’s hot air release pad?
Editor of CT hope he is paying you for all the advertising and you really need to rethink your editorial priorities at this stage..
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Native Vedda / December 18, 2012
Dayan Jayatilleka types:
“So after two years, we leave Paris, and as all of you know Paris is not an easy place to leave.”
Please stay in France, don’t returned to island.
There is no evidence to suggest that people long to see you back.
Please seek advice from Tamil Diaspora in Paris who would definitely show you how to apply for Political/Economic refugee status.
You are entitle for many benefits I am told. Good money compared to pittance that you receive in pay and allowances as Sri Lanka’s over valued under achieved Ambassador.
I am sure MR would not miss you. You can return to the island when the regime is changed.
Surely you can find another job under new regime.
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Anti-boru / December 19, 2012
Just because he’s not a Rajapaksa doesn’t preclude him from using the Royal “We.” As long as his liege permits it, exercising his royal prerogative, it should be okay!
What a puffed up jackass to think that his farewell speech to a group of buddies is of international importance! The arrogance of the Rajapaksas seems to rub off on their lackeys like this one who can now revert to extolling the virtues of his father and that other pandankaraya, his uncle!
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Dr Dayan Jayatilleka / December 18, 2012
Grammar, Ramani, grammar: as you will see from the last line, I was speaking on behalf of, and referring to, my wife and myself. Plural, not singular.
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Wuliangguobinjiu / December 18, 2012
Ramani is right you are just talking bull like most disenchanted professors who are unable to set up their own consultancy because they just aren’t practical people. Professors from traditional rich families admit this fact to their very students in their last lecture.
Look all around you what have the UNESCO, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, achieved by employing former professors and professors as consultants? But just nothing short of white elephants worldwide.
Anyway yours was a clear political appointment not your wife, have a relook at your letter of appointment so Ramani is right.
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suryagamage nilan / December 18, 2012
Paris O Paris: Where were you when close to 100,000 Tamils dissappeared in the Vanni? Where were you when white vans took away journalists and now the lawyers and the CJ.
You can wax eloquently about Paris with your book about Fidel…My ass what low levels have the Sinhala intellectual like you has sunk? I would not even dignify it with the word intellectual but opportunist ass licker!
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Safa / December 18, 2012
love Paris in the spring time
I love Paris in the fall
I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles
I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles
I love Paris every moment
Every moment of the year
I love Paris, why, oh why do I love Paris
Because my love is here
She’s there, she’s everywhere
But she’s really here
Frank Sinatra
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P A Samaraweera / December 18, 2012
Are you with Mahinda or not? If not scoot.
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Anti-boru / December 19, 2012
P. A. Samaraweera:
That’s an idea! He can scoot to Australia and abuse that country’s democratic hospitality like you do!
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Saman De Silva / December 18, 2012
Ayyo Madam Sanja than nikan Sanja wela.Not to worry a couple of mildly anti-government articles from the great intellectual and both H.E and Madam will be off somewhere else at our expense. Bon voyage.
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Jagath Jayaweera / December 18, 2012
I am amazed tht your jumping around in the Sri Lankan political scene, from socialist to Tamil, to capitalist and political group of every other hue over quarter a decade ended with a diplomatic post in Paris.
Hope you spared a thought about the poor malnourished peasants and labourers back in Sri Lank, whose sweat financed the cocktails and your roaming around in France, and Europe.
You seem be so nostalgic about the Paris bourgeois scene. The best thing for you now is to enter in to some dispute with the Rajapaksas and apply for refugee status in France. They might oblige due to your loyalty to Paris.
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Atticus / December 18, 2012
Dr.Jayatileke can tell Ramani & her friends
“We shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and we,
We took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
Frost wouldn’t mind.
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Ariyadasa Gajanayaka / December 18, 2012
Dayan, the dictator needs you more than now to wash his dirty linen(satakaya) which has become dirty with the blood and the sh*thole that he is in medding with the Judiciary in the coming months.
My advice is to get some extra strong laundry stain remover from Paris and that will definitely help you mate.
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Ronny / December 18, 2012
I think Dr. Jayatilleke is one of the best Sri Lankan Ambassadors in France. He may not have moved very closely with the Sri Lankan community in Paris especially with the Buddhist Priests but he has been a very good Ambassador for our country politically and otherwise. France needs Ambassadors of his calibre. All our best wishes to both of them – not only to him but both as he has always been using the Pronoun “WE” which Ramani (maybe the swollen headed person who is after money through even the oldest profession) hasn’t understood.
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Wuliangguobinjiu / December 18, 2012
France has more say in the Arabic world but today it has no say. Take off the agricultural subsidy and they may have to eat cake. Neither is French the second largest spoken language in the world anymore. The prick Dayan received a political appointment and his behaviour which he has exhibited was never that of an ambassador therefore the French never needed him anymore. Have a closer look at his pet invitees all dependant nations and his venue speaks of you.
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Chandra / December 18, 2012
May I ask why we need to see this tripe by a person who has been responsible for whitewashing the Raja regime, stood bye while the regime consolidated itself dictatorially and got enough and more diplomatic plums for his pains?
Now he and that other joker Rajiwa is in the dgohouse. And we have to put up with these ludicrous nostalgic tales!What clownishness.
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punchnilame / December 18, 2012
Dayan-Rajiva combine under Rajapakse had to come to and end – never
imagined that soon. The Sinhala Spring has just begun and it is time that these two voices make a change. Kohana-Rohana will follow?
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Bedrock Barney / December 19, 2012
You once wrote, when you were recalled from Geneva, that you hoped that you had not lost the confidence of the president. I was wondering now, in light of recent events, if the president has lost your confidence?
Also would it not be better to stay in SL and be a voice of reason, in the madhouse, than seek these diplo postings?
Either way I wish and your wife all the best for the New Year and the future!
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Lawyer / December 19, 2012
Dayan as “Anuruddha Thilakasiri” washed the dirty linen of Premadasa.Then he washed the dirty linen of Idi Mahin.
Summary – Dayan’s job is washing dirty linen of whoever the leader is. Period.
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Somasiri Rathnayake / December 19, 2012
Dear CT Editor,
You are doing a great disservice to this site by carrying nonsense like this. It is one thing to occasionally have a rant by Dayan J or his associates. Painful as they may be it adds something to the discourse. This is something for the Hi magazine or society page of a daily. A self glorifying individual has said goodbye to a handful of people for the tenth time. Yes and that is news for some reason and we are supposed to care. You may say the reader may chose not to read. But how would you know crap unless by reading it and wasting two minutes that you may never get back?
Many of us who have a memory knows that this is all about creating the right conditions for the next plump posting. First the self created outrage that Dayan’s term of office is coming to an end. Then his buddies (read Rajiva Wijesinghe) making a scene about the great loss to Sri lanka and diplomacy.Then a few critical articles by Dayan himself of the government and a selected few individuals in the administration. When the noise gets too much President invites Dayan for breakfast or a trip abroad.All is forgotten and forgiven and the man is off on a jaunt at our expense. So Mr. Editor do you really want to be part of this scam?
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srilal / December 19, 2012
i agree with NV’s statement ” Sri Lanka’s over valued under achieved Ambassador ” .thanks to India this man went on record blowing his own trumpet about 2009 Geneva Temporary victory !
DJ was instrumental in(indirectly) supporting the 18 th Amendment , but later tried to distance himself . if any one wants to see how he supported , please see the archives of the Sunday leader , it’s all there.
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Native Vedda / December 19, 2012
srilal
You know he was a minister in EPRLF run brutal North East Provincial Council, supporting Varatharajaperumal Premachandran axis of evil. Then Premadasa’s brutal government and now MR clan.
You haven’t seen nothing yet.
He would have been the foreign minister under VP had LTTE established their stupid Tamil Eelam. As long as he is given prominent place within the establishment colour, caste, race, party…. no bar. He will serve all and any regime which does not display democratic credentials.
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srilal / December 20, 2012
NV you are spot on , yes DJ will go to any lengths to achieve any of his selfish goals and the same time he will move heaven and earth to justify the misdemeanor.
remember how DJ strived to justify himself of being a moral person by turning down the offer of ambassadorship to Japan under the boggols administration , yet he did not have any issues to work under GL , this incident alone reflects his true character ,being an arrogant & egoistic nature of the person , naturally DJ would not bow down to Boggols , hence he turned down the offer , he did not give a damn about the current suicidal foreign policies or the nature of the governance , but had the nerve to complain about boggol’s performance . There is absolutely no difference between him and the current looters, period.
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Native Vedda / December 20, 2012
srilal
Why are we wasting our time commenting on this person’s rant?
I suspect something wrong with us.
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Don Quixote / December 21, 2012
Why can’t you call your friends Excellencies ? If you know them and respect them all the more reason why you should !
If this is the sort of diplomat that we have there will be nothing left of our culture and the subtle nuances of high class behavior that those with genuine breeding (who should be our diplomats) are familair with.
Guttersnipery ( my word ) something that was confined to certain politicians,exists at all levels now I can see.
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shankar / December 25, 2012
[Paris Is Not An Easy Place To Leave]
I beg to differ Dayan. Paris is easier to leave than to live for you after the killing of the LTTE top guy.If the French police don’t do anything about it,then the LTTE surely will and guess who will be the no one target in Paris?
You also fell for the use and dispose condom practice of the Rajapakshe’s and they gave you a farewell present to remember forever.
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