Sri Lanka, Aug. 14 -- In today's world, we are unlikely to encounter another academic, scholar, and diplomat who has left such an indelible mark-both internationally and within the nation's own history-as Sri Lanka's Gunapala Malalasekera.

indeed, he is a distinguished son of Sri Lanka who commands global renown. He left an indelible mark on the field of the English language through his English-Sinhala dictionary-a legacy destined to endure for centuries. He served as Sri Lanka's first official representative in Russia, as well as High Commissioner to Canada and the United Kingdom.

Additionally, he served as Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, distinguishing himself as a scholarly diplomat. A statu...