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| Friday, 5 September 2003 |
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Mervyn de Silva: 74th birth anniversary Mervyn's introduction to world affairs
Mervyn de Silva would have been 74 years today, September 5th, had he lived. When he died in 1999 at the age of 69, he had been a commentator on international affairs for over four decades. The first Sri Lankan expert commentator on world affairs, he was unmatched during his life. Writing in 1996 on "SWRD the Internationalist" in a special commemorative supplement of the Daily News, Mervyn took the opportunity to place on record the story of his initiation into the study of world affairs. He was 26 years when he was introduced to SWRD Bandaranaike in the aftermath of the '56 election. - DJ S.W.R.D. as internationalist For Mr. S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs, the study of world events and global issues was more than an official duty. It was a private passion. This I had gathered from my Peradeniya Campus comrade, Nimal Karunatilleke whose stunning victory at Matale against a formidable opponent at the April 1956 polls announced a crushing defeat for the ruling UNP, Mr. S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike who had quit the UNP to launch the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) was particularly keen to change Sri Lanka's foreign policy. A newly independent country, he argued should pursue a more independent policy. He did not think too highly for the UNP's foreign policy orientation. And he was far from happy over Radio Ceylon's international affairs commentaries. Could Nimal kindly "find some chap"? Since I was a regular broadcaster, I was asked whether I would accept the assignment. I told the Prime Minister's favourite backbencher that an occasional review of Hemingway novel or some Zany Marx Brother's movie did not qualify me to discuss an uprising in Europe or President Nasser's daring enterprises. I should have known better. It was not easy to win an argument with Nimal Karunatilleke or his guru. So what's the problem? That's the answer I received over a cup of tea at the House restaurant. The Prime Minister would meet me each week at his office or more likely at 65, Rosmead Place, Saturday morning (the program went on air on Sunday). That's how Prime Minister Bandaranaike became my private tutor, slipping me a book, pamphlet or newspaper clipping occasionally. Though my memory is not all that reliable, I do remember the title of the first book he gave me Atoms for Peace! Looking back forty years I cannot find a wholly satisfying answer to a question that puzzle me. Did this committed internationalist have to play the nationalist or ultra-rationalist? The price of democracy, the numbers game? The intellectual in him would have recognised the irony. Mervyn de Silva, former Editor, Daily News and Editor-in-Chief, Associated Newspapers Publisher of Lanka Guardian. |
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