“I had drawn this picture some 10 odd years ago with the intention of sending it to Mr. Nelson Mandela when I was a schoolboy and him, a prisoner.  But somehow or the other this picture went missing. Recently when I was searching for something else, i accidentally found this in one of my old files and thought of publishing it in THE HORIZON.

Enough has been said and written about Mr Mandela. So, I will conclude all his efforts in achieving his goal, the independence, in one word. ‘COURAGE.’

T B Nandasiri Wanninayaka

The Patron

Horizon”

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Above article appeared in Horizon Journal which was published while at Saliyamala School, Mahavilachchiya  during the period of 1997-1999. I sent the same picture to  President H. E. Tabo Mbeki of the Republic of South Africa along with a covering letter requesting his office to send it to Mr Mandela. Surprisingly, the letter was returned to me. The other letters I sent to people like late Mr. Ronald Reagun, Late Princess Diana, etc. when I was a schoolboy ended up getting answers though. Since I didn’t have the exact addresses, I used only the name of the person and the name of the country. But all the other letters I sent had been delivered to the relevant addressee.  We didn’t have the access to Internet those days to find the exact contact details.