Abdul Cader Shahul Hameed
Abdul Cader Shahul Hameed was a Sri Lankan diplomat and prominent political figure. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka from 1977 to 1989; and from 1993 to 1994. In the intervening period he was Minister of Justice & Higher Education of Sri Lanka.
Born on 10 April 1927 in Kurugoda, Akurana, he was educated at St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota; Vijay College, Matale and Zahira College, Matale. Joining the United National Party in 1956 and contested the March 1960 general election from Akurana and was elected to parliament. He was re-elected in all the consecutive elections and in 1970 changed his electorate to Harispattuwa and was re-elected until his death. In 1978, he was appointed the first Minister of Foreign Affairs, which had been held by the Prime Minister since 1948. He served as Foreign Minister till 1989, becoming the longest serving Foreign Minister in Sri Lanka. From 1989 to 1993 he served as Justice Minister from 1989 to 1993 before taking over as Foreign Minister from 1993 to 1994. Remained a member of the opposition until his death on 3 September 1999. He had been awarded honorary doctorates from the Hankuk University and the University of Sri Jayawardenepura.
