by Prasad Gunewardene
Spiritual teachings of all religions say that retribution comes without notice. The doctrine of Lord Buddha is the practical way of life. At times one has to pay for his/her sins during their lifetime and not in births that are anticipated after death. When Hewa Koparage Mervyn Silva born 25 March 1944 popularly known as Mervyn Silva in politics complains to the police that he faces death threats one cannot help him without laughing. Even the police may have laughed when the complaint was made because during Mervyn’s ministerial days even the police feared him.
Last week the maverick Mervyn Silva our politician complained to the Narahenpita Police that he had been threatened with death over the phone. This self-proclaimed ‘Dutugemunu’ from the South who earlier claimed he never feared anyone and even challenged the police now seeks protection and relief from the very police he earlier challenged. For Mervyn, even the Court House was not a place for respect. He challenged journalists within Court precincts. Such was the ‘bravery’ of this pint sized former ministerial ‘Angel’ of the previous regime when he had the blessings of the then government.
Mervyn jumped political camps from time to time to reap political benefits from successive governments. Baptized into SLFP politics by Mahinda Rajapaksa and blessed by Sirima Bandaranaike, Mervyn crossed over to the UNP under the leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe. Of all political leaders, Mervyn could not try his antics with Ranil. Ranil knew the caliber of the man and kept him at a distance under strict supervision. Mervyn looked bored under Ranil as Ranil never allowed him to clash with Sajith Premadasa, a new entrant to Hambantota. When Mervyn attempted to ridicule Sajith in open, Ranil warned him severely. Mervyn decided to re-join the SLFP and he was welcomed by Anura Bandaranaike.
Having rejoined the SLFP he was critical of Ms.Bandaranaike taking the side of Anura when the mother-son political battle began. Mervyn cast unbearable derogatory remarks at his mentor Ms. Bandaranaike. Under the SLFP leadership of Chandrika Kumaratunga he started to criticize Chandrika in a dastardly manner towards Chandrika’s tail end of her leadership and backed Mahinda Rajapaksa. His antics under Mahinda need no repetition in this valuable space here. The entire country witnessed those antics and the role he played as a ‘pet dog’ seated on the ground near Mahinda’s feet. He described Mahinda as a ‘God’ and a ‘King’. Mahinda was too humane towards Mervyn and there were instances when Gotabaya wanted to try Mervyn before the law, Mahinda stopped Gotabaya from pursuing such action. Mervyn was not ashamed to cry before Mahinda to seek protection. Mervyn cannot deny those facts. In reality, Mahinda never studied Mervyn but only fondled and spoilt him.
Mervyn was a politician with fortune. He managed to get his wife into Parliament for a brief period. Towards the end of Mahinda’s term of presidency, Mervyn was planning to introduce his ‘Like Father, Like Son’ Malaka into left politics from the Matara District. That was the period that stars began to turn otherwise for Mervyn. If not, Sri Lankan politics and people would have had to experience the legacy that Mervyn leaves for his son who became popular by resorting to anti-social acts in public resulting in Court cases.
When the SLFP broke into two in the early 1980s with Maithripala Senanayake and Anura forming another group and taking over SLFP Headquarters for few hours, Mervyn’s support stood with Anura while Mahinda firmly stood by Ms. Bandaranaike. The Maithri-Anura take- over of the party headquarters ended at the Maradana Police that night. Mrs. B accompanied by late Vijaya Kumaratunga arrived at the police station around 8.45 pm on that day. This Writer covered the incident for ‘The Island’ newspaper. Ms. B was heard being very critical of Mervyn’s conduct during her conversation with Vijaya. She said in Sinhala, ‘Maawa hapakawa wage thamai kawadahari Mervyn Anurawath, Mahindawath hapakanne. Dennata kochchara kiwwath therenne naha’ (One day Mervyn will bite Anura and Mahinda the way he bit me. How much I tell them they don’t realize).
Three decades later Ms. B’s prediction has come true. Mervyn has bit the hand of Mahinda who nurtured him into politics. Anura passed away before he was bitten. Today Mervyn has taken Mahinda to the CID. Mervyn insults the Rajapaksas’ in the same manner he did to the Bandaranaikes’. To seek gratitude from Mervyn is like asking a feather from a tortoise. Maithri and Ranil have sidelined Mervyn to build a disciplined political establishment in the country. For over a decade Mervyn issued threats to his opponents wielding political power. And, those victims lodged complaints with the police and many such complaints went silent due to political pressure. As retribution come without notice, today Mervyn seeks solace before the police. The police have done their duty in seeking a Court order to trace the caller who gave the threatening telephone call to Mervyn. Such is the fate of a self – proclaimed Dutugemunu from the South.
Courtesy:Ceylon Today