Yogendra Duraiswamy
Encyclopedia
Yogendra Duraiswamy, SLOS
was a Sri Lanka
n diplomat
, who served in India, Myanmar, the United States (New York), Australia, Iraq, Italy, China and the Philippines.
to Sir
Vaithilingam Duraiswamy, a speaker
of the State Council of Ceylon
. Duraiswamy was educated at Jaffna Central College
, Jaffna Hindu College
and at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
from where he entered the University of Ceylon
in 1944 and graduated with an Honours Degree in Economics.
through a highly competitive examination and selection process. His first overseas appointment was in New Delhi where he later returned again as Secretary in charge of Public Relations. He opened the Sri Lankan consulate in Chennai.
During his career he served in the Ceylon's embassies in Rangoon, Canberra, Baghdad, Rome, Beijing and Manila. He was the Official Secretary of the Ceylon Mission to the United Nations in New York from 1956 to 1959, when he gained recognition as the spokesman for the Afro Asian Group. In 1970 he was the representative of Ceylon at the Sessions of the UN General Assembly. Duraiswamy participated in the first Non-Aligned Conference in Belegrade in 1961.
He had served as Ceylon's head of embassy or Charge d'affairs in Iraq, Italy and the Philippines. In Manila, he was conferred the Ancient Order of Sikatuna
in recognition of his exceptional contribution to strengthening relations between Sri Lanka and the Philippines. In 1975 he retired prematurely. In 1979 President J.R. Jayewardene appointed him as District Secretary (Government Agent
) of Jaffna
that then included the Kilinochchi
district. During his tenure of 3 years he implemented many infrastructure and employment generation development projects. Later he served as a lecturer at the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute
and participated in civic initiatives to help resolve the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka and assist the war-affected population.
.
Sri Lanka Overseas Service
The Sri Lanka Overseas Service which is most commonly referred to as the Sri Lanka Foreign Service is the foreign service of Sri Lanka. It is the body of career diplomats of Sri Lanka...
was a Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, who served in India, Myanmar, the United States (New York), Australia, Iraq, Italy, China and the Philippines.
Early life and education
Born in 1923 in JaffnaJaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
to Sir
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Vaithilingam Duraiswamy, a speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the State Council of Ceylon
State Council of Ceylon
The State Council of Ceylon was the unicameral legislature for Ceylon , established in 1931 by the Donoughmore Constitution. The State Council gave universal adult franchise to the people of the colony for the first time...
. Duraiswamy was educated at Jaffna Central College
Jaffna Central College
Jaffna Central College is a boys public national school in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1817 by British Methodist missionaries and is among the oldest of the modern schools in Sri Lanka.-History:...
, Jaffna Hindu College
Jaffna Hindu College
Jaffna Hindu College is a boys public national school in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1886 by a group of Hindu people who wanted an English language alternative to the Christian missionary schools. JHC is known throughout Sri Lanka as Hindu College.-History:In the late 19th century all the...
and at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
Royal College Colombo
The Royal College of Colombo was founded in January 1835 in Colombo. It is considered to be the leading Public School in Sri Lanka...
from where he entered the University of Ceylon
University of Ceylon
The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978. In 1978 it was...
in 1944 and graduated with an Honours Degree in Economics.
Diplomatic career
In 1949 he joined the newly formed Ceylon Overseas Service in the first batch of six cadets, along with Vernon MendisVernon Mendis
Deshamanya Dr Vernon Loraine Benjamin Mendis is a prominent Sri Lankan diplomat, who served as the United Nations' Special Envoy to the Middle East...
through a highly competitive examination and selection process. His first overseas appointment was in New Delhi where he later returned again as Secretary in charge of Public Relations. He opened the Sri Lankan consulate in Chennai.
During his career he served in the Ceylon's embassies in Rangoon, Canberra, Baghdad, Rome, Beijing and Manila. He was the Official Secretary of the Ceylon Mission to the United Nations in New York from 1956 to 1959, when he gained recognition as the spokesman for the Afro Asian Group. In 1970 he was the representative of Ceylon at the Sessions of the UN General Assembly. Duraiswamy participated in the first Non-Aligned Conference in Belegrade in 1961.
He had served as Ceylon's head of embassy or Charge d'affairs in Iraq, Italy and the Philippines. In Manila, he was conferred the Ancient Order of Sikatuna
Order of Sikatuna
The Order of Sikatuna is the national order of diplomatic merit of the Republic of the Philippines. It is conferred upon individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the Republic of the Philippines, upon diplomats, officials and nationals of foreign states who have rendered...
in recognition of his exceptional contribution to strengthening relations between Sri Lanka and the Philippines. In 1975 he retired prematurely. In 1979 President J.R. Jayewardene appointed him as District Secretary (Government Agent
Government Agent
A function called Government Agent exist or existed in the past in several countries, such as* Sri Lanka - see Government Agent * Canada - see Government Agent...
) of Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
that then included the Kilinochchi
Kilinochchi
Kilinochchi is a city in the Kilinochchi District, part of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Kilinochchi is situated at the A9 road some south-east of Jaffna...
district. During his tenure of 3 years he implemented many infrastructure and employment generation development projects. Later he served as a lecturer at the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute
Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute
Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute India is the institute in Colombo where Sri Lanka Overseas Service officers are trained. The Institute functions under Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies, with itself coming under the Ministry of...
and participated in civic initiatives to help resolve the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka and assist the war-affected population.
Family
His wife Sivanandhini Duraiswamy was the President of the Siiva Mangaiyar Kalagam (Hindu Women's Society) and his only son, Naresh Duraiswamy is a Senior Operations Officer at the World BankWorld Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
.