Fernando's Futile Follies

" I reiterate my main question: If we don’t respect the decision of the courts (the legal system) and disagree with those of the people at repeated elections (democracy, popular sovereignty), what do we have left, who is the ultimate arbiter -- the unaccountable Asian Human Rights Commission and its leader-in-permanent-exile?"

by Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka

(September 19, Singapore City, Sri Lanka Guardian) Basil Fernando opines that: “The intellectual tradition of Colombo has created many such puny minds and visionless ‘intellectuals’. These include Mervin de Silva and all. Dayan Jayatilleka is only an offshoot of this ‘tradition’.”

I gladly admit to being “an offshoot of this tradition”. Since Basil Fernando was never even a minor, passing figure in the “intellectual tradition of Colombo” I am both amused and unsurprised that he displays this huge chip on his shoulder.

Now I haven’t heard of a “Mervin de Silva” though I have heard of Mervyn de Silva (the guy after whom Sri Lanka’s top journalism award is named), Dr Mervyn D De Silva (development administrator) and one Mervyn Silva (MP). Which one is Mr Fernando referring to, why can’t he get the spelling right ...and could he kindly cite a single person of repute or with credentials, Sri Lankan or non-Sri Lankan, to support his view?

Fernando says that “There is nothing to be surprised about in his admiration for Joseph Stalin, JR Jayewardene, R Premadasa and Mahinda Rajapaksha.” Now that’s a laugh. I don’t know where on earth (quite literally) Basil Fernando was when JR Jayewardene’s government indicted me as the First Accused on 14 counts under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Emergency. The first charge was “conspiracy to overthrow the State through violence”. The 8th accused was K Pathmanabha, founder leader of the EPRLF. Among those indicted was Dayapala Tiranagama. Years later, in 1992, JR Jayewardene attempted to sue me (story in the Sunday Times). Now if these are signs of “admiration...for JR Jayewardene” as Basil Fernando alleges, I think he should seek some professional help because he has serious issues...and I don’t mean with Eichmann or Mahinda! It also shows that everything he says on anything must be taken not just with a pinch of salt but with the salt shaker at hand.

I reiterate my main question: If we don’t respect the decision of the courts (the legal system) and disagree with those of the people at repeated elections (democracy, popular sovereignty), what do we have left, who is the ultimate arbiter -- the unaccountable Asian Human Rights Commission and its leader-in-permanent-exile?

Please refer to previous article: The Decline of Sri Lanka and Dayan’s Homemade Puny Mind