Former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar payed tribute to Dutch contribution to Sri Lanka on 29 November 2001

Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar recalled the history of the Dutch Burgher community who played an unparalleled role in the public life Sri Lanka.

 

“The Dutch Burgher community excelled not only in exalted positions in our society. They also performed with great credit, quality, effectively in various other areas of our national life,” he said.

 

He expressed these views in a speech made to mark the 50th anniversary of Sri Lanka-Netherlands diplomatic relations.

 

Sri Lanka was a Dutch colony from 1638-1796.

 

The full text of the speech as follows:

 

Excellencies,

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

The Portuguese initially came to this island in 1501 as traders, but they stayed in occupation of the Maritime Provinces by force of arms until they were expelled by the Dutch in 1638.

 

In 1602, Admiral Joris Van Spilbergen, a high official of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), a joint stock company founded in that year, set foot on the shores of eastern Sri Lanka, South of Batticaloa and was received by King Wimaladharmasuriya, in Kandy. The Dutch too came to trade but they stayed in control of the maritime areas by force of arms, having systematically ousted the Portuguese from these areas of the island, until they too were ousted in 1796, this time by the British, who like the others, having come to trade, gained possession of the whole island by force of arms and remained in occupation of it until 1948. This, in a few words, is the sad saga of a hospitable nation that lost its independence for nearly 450 years.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, what we commemorate today is not the Dutch connection forced upon us 400 years ago. What we celebrate joyfully today is the 50th anniversary of a free association between two small, independent and sovereign states-one located in Europe with a long mercantilist and maritime tradition, and the other an island in the Indian Ocean with an ancient civilization strategically located on the main sea routes between East and West.

 

Diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands were formally established on 23rd November 1951. Sri Lanka had a resident Charge d’ Affaires in The Hague until 1963. In that year Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Bonn was concurrently accredited to The Hague. This function was transferred to the Sri Lanka Embassy in Brussels in 1978. In 1993, a fully-fledged Sri Lanka Mission with a resident Ambassador was established in The Hague, the capital of the Netherlands.

 

On the other hand, the Netherlands had established Consulates at Galle and Colombo, which were closed in 1899 and 1953 respectively. The Netherlands Embassy that was opened subsequently in Colombo was closed for budgetary reasons in 1972 and reopened in 1977.

 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, on this happy occasion it is my pleasure to convey, on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, our felicitations and warm greetings to His Excellency Hein Princen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Sri Lanka, the members of the Royal Netherlands Embassy and the members of the Dutch community resident in Sri Lanka.

 

It is a remarkable tribute to the Netherlands that the influence of that 150-year period when the Dutch were here many centuries ago has remained. That influence lingers in many areas of our national life. Great monuments-forts (one of them a world Heritage Site in Galle), mansions (including the buildings where the High Court and the District Courts of Colombo and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are housed), churches, canals-vividly recall the Dutch presence in Sri Lanka.

 

There are two great living legacies of the Dutch period of our history. One is the Roman Dutch law and the other is the Dutch Burgher community, alas not as numerous as they were up to a few decades ago.

 

The Roman Dutch law, implanted here by the Dutch, is still the common law of Sri Lanka, as it is of South Africa. There was a time when it applied in Guyana and in what was then Rhodesia (and is now Zimbabwe). I am not sure to what extent it applies in those countries now. The Dutch did not leave the Roman Dutch law in Indonesia. Indonesia was ruled by the Dutch by decree, but in Sri Lanka, in Ceylon, for a reason, which still eludes legal scholars, the Dutch decided to plant this great body of law here a long time ago. And after the Dutch period was over and the British came here, the record shows that the British judges of the Supreme Court of Ceylon, in the early years of the 19th century, decided that the Roman Dutch law should be retained intact, and indeed British judges made a great contribution towards the development of Roman Dutch law. But it is not remarkable, Ladies and Gentlemen that so many centuries later the basic principles of that body of law are still embedded in the case law of Sri Lanka, applied day after day in our courts. In the Netherlands itself, Roman Dutch law no longer applies. It was superseded by the Napoleonic Code. The great Dutch legal scholars wrote in Latin. During my time as a law student we had to learn Latin because we had to have at least some basic familiarity with the works of the great Dutch writers on Roman Dutch law. Gone are the days when our lawyers and judges could read in their original language, the works of the great Dutch jurists, Grotius and Voet, Vaderlinden, Vanleeuwen and others.

 

Some 40 years ago, I spent some months, at the University of Leiden, reading the old texts on Roman-Dutch law written in Latin by the great 17th century Dutch jurists. In an-antechamber of the library of that ancient university the name of Johannes Voet is clearly seen, scratched on the stone wall of the room, among hundreds of other names. It is said that Voet, later the renowned jurist, had carved his name on the wall while waiting in that room, like all the other students, for the dreaded announcement of their examination results.

 

The influence of the Roman Dutch law in our jurisprudence is well illustrated by a decision of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, sitting in London, then our highest court of appeal, in 1956, before Sri Lanka became a Republic, where the ownership of a valuable property in Colombo turned entirely on the interpretation of one sentence in Latin in a treatise by a rather obscure Dutch jurist called Perezius. I remember that case very well because it was my first appearance in a court as a very junior lawyer.

 

During the British period of our history, the Dutch Burgher community played an unparalleled role in the public life of this country. I wish to take this opportunity to pay a tribute to the Dutch Burgher community of Sri Lanka through those members of the community who are present here this evening. Those who are here this evening are themselves individually most worthy representatives of those magnificent people who have gone before them. In literally every walk of life in Sri Lanka the Dutch Burghers have made an outstanding contribution. In doing so they showed that our national life could be greatly enriched, that there is a contribution to be made, by all the citizens of our diverse society, if only they look beyond the narrow constraints of ethnicity. Our public life is studded with the names of eminent, legendary figures from that community. They produced great judges and lawyers, outstanding doctors, writers, historians, sociologists, archaeologists, administrators, teachers and professors, scientists, legislators. Present this evening is a distinguished lady, President of the Dutch Burgher Union, whose father, the distinguished Dr. R. L. Brohier, was an outstanding representative of that generation of great scholars and writers. We have here a representative of the Dutch Reformed Church. The Dutch Reformed Church has been a great pillar of Sri Lankan life for a long time. In the field of business and commerce there were giants among them. I am also pleased to see here a gentlemen who until quite recently was Chairman of one of the leading business houses in Sri Lanka.

 

The Dutch Burgher community excelled not only in exalted positions in our society. They also performed with great credit, quietly, effectively, in various other areas of our national life-in the police, the armed services, in the railways, in sport. They gave to the country a Commander of the Army, a Commander of the Navy and an Inspector General of Police. Some of the pioneer sportsmen of our country came from that community. Alas, as I said a moment ago, there are very few Dutch Burghers left in Sri Lanka; they began to melt away, perhaps most markedly in the decades of the 50s. Their departure has greatly impoverished our public life. Many of them migrated to Australia, others over the decades went to other countries, but in Australia there are a large number of them, and there too they are playing a notable role as good solid citizens. In the name of all the citizens of Sri Lanka I salute the Dutch Burgher community for the enormous contribution they have made towards the enrichment of the public life of Sri Lanka.

 

After the liberalization of the Sri Lankan economy in 1971, its export trade with the Netherlands, which had been hitherto confined largely to traditional items, became diversified. There has been a significant expansion of trade between the two countries during the last decades, although the scale of trade is still comparatively small in the overall business links between countries.

 

In the year 2000 Sri Lankan exports to the Netherlands amounted to US$ 80 million, while imports from the Netherlands amounted to US$ 45 million. Bilateral trade in both directions has so far tended to be concentrated in a few areas, supplemented by many small, often irregular shipments in other product areas. The main Sri Lankan export items in recent years have been ready-made garments, tobacco, rubber and rubber products, tea and spices. A similar pattern can be observed for Sri Lankan imports from the Netherlands. Four main categories account for almost two-thirds of the import trade. These are tobacco, paper and paper products, vegetables and electrical equipment. The remaining trade is wide ranging but appears to fluctuate considerably. Rotterdam serves as an important distributing centre for Sri Lankan products in Europe. Today there are more than forty Dutch companies with a significant investment in the island. One such Anglo-Dutch firm, Unilever, started operations here in 1937.

 

Tourists from the Netherlands constitute a small but significant proportion of the tourist traffic from Europe to Sri Lanka. Statistics reveal that in the year 2000, 22,618 Dutch tourists visited Sri Lanka out of a total of 267,644 from the whole of Europe.

 

In 1999, the Dutch Government approved a plan proposed by the Development Co-operation Minister, Eveline Herfkens, for the reorganization of the Development Co-operation program with developing countries. Under this plan, Sri Lanka is among 19 short listed countries, which have been identified for long-term cooperation in the fields of rural development, environment, reconstruction and rehabilitation.

 

The Dutch canal system linked Colombo to Chilaw. This was the means of transport used at the time of the Dutch-and thereafter by the British too. The system is well preserved. Minister Weerakoon, when Minister of Science and Technology, explored the possibility of dredging the canals with Dutch expertise and using them for a boat service for fishermen to dock their boats for repairs; for the establishment of bio-fertilizer plants to be set up in the Muthurajawela, the extensive expanse of water-logged land near Colombo, and for tourist purposes. Dutch expertise on the use of canals is highly prized world-wide. In Sri Lanka, the revival of the canal system with modern Dutch technology would be an efficient and pleasing way of re-vivifying a cherished part of our historical legacy.

 

In the cultural field, the Netherlands Government has made financial assistance available for the preservation of the Dutch heritage in Sri Lanka. Dutch funding has helped restore the museum and the Wolvendhal Church in Colombo and parts of the Galle Fort. An Arts and Cultural Centre will be established in the VOC hospital in Colombo, once restoration work, supported by the expertise of Dutch architects is completed. There is also a proposal to establish a Galle Heritage Centre with Dutch collaboration. A permanent exhibition of artefacts from the Dutch period has already been opened in the Galle Maritime Museum.

 

In addition, a project to preserve and exhibit the underwater remains of an ancient Dutch VOC ship, “De Avondster”, which lies at a depth of 4-7 metres, about 50 meters from the beach off the Marine Drive in Galle, is due to get underway in early December. The three-year programme of work is estimated to cost 66 million rupees and will be funded by the Netherlands Government, through the Dutch Cultural Fund’s “Avondster” project.

 

In late 2000 Ambassador Princen played a key role in the formation of the Sri Lanka-Netherlands Association in Colombo to strengthen and promote historical, social, cultural and economic ties between the two countries. Among the major activities proposed for 2001/2002 by the Association are the renovation of the Dutch period Museum with help from the Ethnological Museum in Leiden, a programme for the conversion of the Dutch Forts in Sri Lanka to living resorts, sponsorship of a travelling photographic exhibition titled “Dutch Features in Sri Lanka” and the publication of “Dutch Maps and Plans of Sri Lanka”.

 

In the field of educational co-operation too, the Netherlands has been active. The Netherlands Universities Foundation for International Co-operation (NUFFIC), founded in 1952, has the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in The Hague as its educational arm. This project which comes under the Mutual Heritage Programme of the Sri Lankan Government is due to carry out further archaeological work in Galle involving the Amsterdam Historical Museum, the University of Amsterdam, the Western Australian Maritime Museum and the Central Cultural Fund of Sri Lanka.

 

There have been strong academic links between the two countries. Many Dutch scholars have researched Sri Lanka’s history and culture. Professor Senarath Paranavithana, doyen of Sri Lankan archaeologists, wrote his Ph.D thesis, which was later published as “The Stupa of Ceylon” at the University of Leiden.

 

Around 40-50 Sri Lankan post graduate students and scholars are following educational programmes under the aegis of NUFFIC. The need to have a strong relationship between the Netherlands and the participants in these programmes was realised with the formation, under the development co-operation programme for 1997/2000, of the Netherlands Alumni Association of Sri Lanka in 1976, which has a current membership of more than 400. The Netherlands Government has made a financial grant of US$ 1 million for research and education. In the year 2000 sixty-four Sri Lankans were following courses under that fellowship programme.

 

The Netherlands Government also finances educational activities in the field of human rights through a number of organizations such as the Institute of Policy Studies, non-governmental organizations involved in human rights and the University of Colombo.

 

In recognition of the long-lasting ties that bind our two countries, President Kumaratunga made an official visit to the Netherlands in March this year, the first visit by a Sri Lankan Head of State. She extended an invitation to Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands to undertake a visit to Sri Lanka at her convenience.

 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, on this historic occasion when we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands. I ask you to rise and join me in a toast to Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and the people of the Netherlands and to the long friendship between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands.

 

The speech delivered by Hein Princen, Netherlands Ambassador

 

Your Excellencies, Honourable Minister,

 

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

I am very grateful to the honourable minister for having so kindly arranged tonight’s official dinner party, in celebration of fifty years of diplomatic relations between our two countries, and I sincerely thank the minister for his most kind words.

 

I am very pleased and honoured to see so many good friends. Some of you have for many years been playing an important part in fostering the relations between our two countries, and by doing so have contributed to what they are today: excellent and friendly.

 

Honourable minister,

 

Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1951, the first years have only shown limited activities. In 1954 our Governments concluded an AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT KLM – and several years later AIR LANKA - started linking our countries by air. And the ABN Bank set up office in Colombo.

 

By the mid 70s, our relations received an important boost, when an important bilateral cooperation programme was launched. Those days we also changed the location of our office - away from Fort - and of the residence.

 

Honourable Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

I would have been here in 1976, as Charge d’Affaires, on recommendation of the then minister Jan Pronk. However, only one year earlier, I had started in Singapore my assignment as the Deputy Head of Mission, so the then Foreign Minister did not agree with me so quickly swopping one beautiful island for another.

 

Our cooperation programme initially focussed on assistance to the rural sector (plantations, districts of Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura, the Mahaweli programme). In 1982 we signed a TECHNICAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT. One of the more spectacular projects those days was the arrival of 2000 cows – for livestock development in the rural areas.

 

Since the 70s, hundreds of Sri Lankans went to the Netherlands for training and exchange in a great variety of fields. In 1976 the Netherlands Alumni Association Lanka (NAAL) was established, and in my country the STICHING NETHERLAND SRI LANKA.

 

The same year the port cities of Galle and the Velsen / IJuiden started a twinning programme.

 

Gradually the cooperation programme also started covering scientific cooperation, the environmental sector (wetlands, Muturajawela), reconstruction /rehab/relief for conflict affected areas, and infrastructural development (ports, railways, roads).

 

These last years my country is also actively involved in co-funding assistance to conflict affected areas-mainly through the UN agencies, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and ICRC. We are also paying special attention to Poverty Reduction process.

 

Honourable Minister,

 

I should like to use this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Director General ERD and his staff for the excellent working relationship that exists between this department and my embassy.

 

As from the 80s, also economic and trade relations were improved significantly, total trade now amounting to US$ 140 million, two thirds of which is Sri Lanka’s export to the Netherlands, one third Dutch export to Sri Lanka.

 

In 1984 and 1985 agreements were signed to promote and protect investment and to avoid double taxation. The Netherlands is the 5th or 4th largest foreign investor in Sri Lanka.

 

Direct investment was made by companies such as the anglo-dutch giants Unilever and Shell, by AGIO Tobacco, and by the companies in the field of horticulture, garments, tourism, several joint-ventures with; that is the Hayleys Group and Keells Holdings, and, more recently, by another Anglo-Dutch multinational P&O/Nedloyd in the Port of Colombo (SAGT), which port is also in close contact with the world’s largest port Rotterdam.

 

Honourable Minister,

 

You will no doubt agree with me, that over the last years, our diplomatic missions here as well as in The Hague, are playing – more than ever- an important role in promoting our bilateral relations, covering our economies, our cultures, our universities, our mutual heritage, culminating in the official visit to the Netherlands on 18 and 19 March, of Her Excellency the President of Sri Lanka, accompanied by yourself.

 

This year also the Minister of Justice, Batty Weerakoon, visited my country, to attend an international conference on fighting corruption. It is regrettable that a visit by Minister Ronnie de Mel to Rotterdam could not take place.

 

During the past 50 years, our two countries have paid special attention to the historical relations, that go back to the year 1602, when the first official contact was made between then the (7) United Provinces of Holland and then Ceylon.

 

Many institutions and individuals have dedicated time and energy in studying and researching – not only in our archives and universities, even by scuba diving for shipwrecks – the many interesting aspects of our mutual heritage.

 

I would like to mention here the Sri Lanka Archaeological Department, the Law Faculty of the University of Colombo (Roman Dutch Law), the National Archives, our National Museum, the Dutch Burgher Union, and also the now 359 years old Dutch Reformed Church.

 

The Netherlands is proud to be one of the main sponsors of the INSTITUTE OF POLICY STUDIES, which is at present one of the most distinguished think-tanks of this country.

 

Last year the Sri Lanka Netherlands Association (SLNA) was established – its 1st President Dr. Roland Silva is on a mission to China and cannot be with us tonight. The Association will foster friendship between our two countries and promote social, economic and cultural activities. She will also play an important role in the events next year, covering the commemoration of the 400 year relations between the Netherlands and Sri Lanka.

 

Honourable Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

In conclusion, may I once more express my sincere gratitude to you, honourable minister and Mrs. Kadirgamar, for so generously offering this official dinner to my wife and myself, to all our friends present here tonight, to celebrate the fact that in November of 1951 our two countries established diplomatic relations.

 

I feel proud to state that 50 years later, the relations between the Netherlands and Sri Lanka are excellent and vibrant, justifying this very happy gathering for all of us.

 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

May I propose a toast to H.E. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the President of Sri Lanka, to the people of this country, and to the excellent relations between the Netherlands and Sri Lanka.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Done