Niranjan Deva-Aditya is a distinguished Sri Lankan who has put the stamp of our country in Britain and Europe. His most recent achievement is to be re-elected to the European Parliament for the third successive time a feat no one else has achieved. He came home to Sri Lanka and while he was here he hosted a cocktail reception in the exclusive Club Room of the Ceylon Continental.

Among those gathered to congratulate him was the British High Commissioner Peter Hayes, the Ambassador for France Monsieur Michel Lummaux and his Deputy, Ministers of state G. L. Pieris and Milinda Moragoda, Members of Parliament. Karu Jayasuriya from the Opposition, and among the other distinguished guests Bradman Weerakoon, Harry Jayawardene, and Chandra Mohotti from the hospitality trade.

Also out here was a friend of the host, an American Senator and his wife who are also on their honeymoon.

To support Nirj were members of his family including his sister Anjali Deva-Aditya and friends among them Priya Jayawardene and daughters Sanjeewani and Stashani, and also from the younger generation Anika Wijesooriya. Mother and son Minoli and Dhiraj de Almeida were among those to listen to a brief speech Niranjan gave, standing against the backdrop of the Sri Lankan Lion flag, with the British Flag and the EU flag on either side.

Fashion ranged from the saree to Western attire and for the men it was formal to ethnic wear.