The full letter follows:

During the last few days, it was clear that Yasser Arafat did not have long to live. Perhaps the conditions in which he lived the last three years of his life and the inability to bring a settlement to the current problems his people faced may have had something to do with his inability to overcome his last illness.

It was often suggested by his detractors that he was the stumbling block to the achievement of some permanent settlement of the problem between the Palestinians and the Israelis. That is a narrow view. For there can be little doubt that Yasser Arafat symbolized to the whole world not merely the struggle of the people of Palestine but also the great injustice that befell them through the creation of the State of Israel. At this time when his death brings to a close a particular chapter in Palestinian history, the world has no option but to recognize the part played by Yasser Arafat in bringing the plight of Palestine to the attention of the world.

For many months to come, Yasser Arafat’s goal during the last forty years in the affairs of Palestine will be assessed and evaluated both by his supporters and by his opponents. I have no wish at this stage to join in this exercise, although I was until very recently the president of the Sri Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Palestine, from the time it was founded way back in the early 1970s. Instead, I would like to refer to the more personal aspects of our relationship.

I have known Mr. Arafat in fact for a long time and have enjoyed his company on many occasions. At such times his personality presented itself in new and unfamiliar ways. I recall in particular one of those meetings in the early 1980s when I had the privilege of being the first Sri Lankan to be a guest of Yasser Arafat, and he took the opportunity of discussing with me in vivid detail his perspective of the problems of his region.

Our friendship continued to the very end. Little did I realize that the end would come so soon. For it was as recently as October 19th this year that Mr. Arafat sent me a personal memento of our long association. Inscribed on it is a personal message from him to me. This memento will be one of my most valued possessions. It will also be a lasting source of inspiration for me. But what baffles me is the timing of this kind gesture. Perhaps a sixth sense whispered to him the end was near.

A couple of months ago I heard from mutual friends that Mr. Arafat was looking ill and tired. I wrote to him, inviting him and his family to come to Sri Lanka and spend a little time with me and our family so that he may recuperate his health. He wrote back saying that it was not possible for him to leave Ramalla at this time because the problems he and his government were experiencing did not allow him to be away from home.

I recall many incidents about our association. On one occasion when he was here, he spent some time with me and our family. My youngest son, Rohitha, who happened to be there and who was then only a small child, did not understand and took no part in the conversation. After some time he relieved his boredom with a pen and pencil, sketching a likeness of Mr. Arafat. Soon he saw what the child was doing, had a look at the sketch and urged us to ensure that the boy’s talent in art was properly nurtured. Happily we followed his advice and the boy, though still at school, has developed into a painter of some promise.

My reactions on hearing of Mr. Arafat’s death, therefore, are the reactions of a friend. I am sad that we shall not see him anymore, playing the part of leader of the Palestinian people. It will take awhile for his people to re-group themselves and to address their problems. This is inevitable because they have had no leader other than Mr. Arafat during their long and painful struggle for justice. More important, the Middle East will not be the same without his presence at those meetings and deliberations which seek to give the Islamic position its proper articulation.

At his death our sympathy goes out to Mrs. Arafat and other members of the family, to his colleagues and to all those people whom he led so devotedly for so long.

[END]