Same Sky, Different Nights

About the Book

This autobiography, set in the social, economic and educational history of Sri Lanka (Ceylon), is an exceptionally informative and entertaining work. Nandasiri Jasentuliyana describes his humble beginnings, his sports oriented youth, and the successes and stresses of his carefully directed education. He recounts the triumphs and tragedies of his adult life with a humor, perceptiveness and profundity rarely consolidated in any single work. Every page rewards the reader with exploding colors in this kaleidoscope of the author’s journey through life. Stephen E. Doyle, Honorary Director, International Institute of Space Law ; formerly, White House Counsel on Space and Telecommunications Policy, and NASA Adviser on International Affairs. The author’s route from an obscure Sinhala-Buddhist village school in Sri Lanka to the summit of the United Nations was inevitably long, winding and arduous. He left in its wake an outstanding academic and professional track record. The story of the boy from the South, who climbed the dizzy heights of international mountains, overcoming obstacles on the way to the top of the United Nations, is an untold saga, which is revealed in these pages.

About the Author

President Emeritus of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL), formerly the Deputy Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna and Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. He holds advanced degrees in Law and International Relations from the Universities of Ceylon, London and McGill, and is an Attorney-at-Law; and holds Diplomas in Aerospace Law and International and Comparative Law. He was the author of the four-volume "Manual of Space Law", (1979), "International Space Law and the United Nations", (1999); "Perspectives on International Law", (1995); "International Space Programs and Policies", (1984); and editor of "Space Law: Development and Scope", (1991); and “Maintaining Outer Space for Peaceful Uses”, United Nations University (1984). He has been a visiting lecturer at Princeton, Stanford, Columbia and McGill Universities and had been a guest lecturer at several universities in Europe and Asia. He is a Trustee of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), member of the Board of Directors of International Space University (ISU), and serves as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the "Journal of Space Policy", published in the United Kingdom, and the "Journal of Space Law", published in the United States. He was the Recipient of the 1982 Testimonial Award of International Astronautical Federation (IAF) awarded annually in the recognition of important contributions to space law and policy and the 1989 Leadership Award of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). He was selected by the United States National Space Society to its unique world-wide list of "100 space people who have had the greatest impact on our lives".