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High Commissioner Skandakumar inspires Australia Awards South and West Asia Scholars Following is Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in Australia Somasundaram Skandakumar’s inspirational speech at the Australia Awards South and West Asia Scholars Forum 2018 held on 17 October at the Old Parliament House, Canberra: Simon Merrifield, Honourable Excellencies, distinguished guests, I would like to thank the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for according me this singular honour to address such a distinguished array of intellectuals. Let me also add the congratulations of my honourable colleagues and myself to each one of you on your respective awards. It was in July 1951 that seven Commonwealth nations, Australia, Britain, Canada, Ceylon, as Sri Lanka was then known, India, New Zealand and Pakistan launched the Colombo Plan for Cooperative Economic and Social Development in Asia and the Pacific. It was a regional initiative designed to help developing countries as a cooperative venture ...