Mervyn Silva phenomenon
Posted on August 10th, 2010

By Charles.S.Perera

The reported cases of dengue is said to be about 26000, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of which ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ about 175 were deaths.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Dengue fever which has taken an epidemic proportion in Sri Lanka is being swept under the carpet ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Mervyn Silva phenomenonƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  by the opposition political parties to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ inform the people and the international community through their press conferences , the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ inaction of the President and the Government to bring under control an eccentric Minister, as there is nothing more important than that happening in Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The disaster that is being caused by dengue fever is no more the concern of the opposition political parties.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Undoubtedly Mervy SilvaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s antics have taken a significant dimension that demands intervention of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Government and the President to prevent him from continuing his erratic behaviour in his own interest, and that of the President and the Government.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mr. Silva seems to be showing an unusual inclination, to come into the limelight by resorting to actions that are unorthodox, and objectionable hoping forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  public acclamation, caring less if the sort acclamation turns to condemnation.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Even if the epithet Court Jester seemedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  appropriate in view of his pranks, they ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ are far from being ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ intelligent and lovableƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  as those gaucheries of Andare- the legendary Sinhala Court Jester.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The court jester or not, it is time that Mr.Silva is castigated ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for his ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ foolish activities, and put a stop to them, as it has become a nuisance for the general public, and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a means for the political opponents of the President and his government to make capital of the situation, to denounce both the President and the government for harbouring an individual not fit enough to be a Minister.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The critics of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  President takeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  his inability to putƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Mr.Silva in his place, as a weakness ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  a NationalƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  leader on whom the people have placed their ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ highest expectations to develop the country, and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ bringƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  prosperity, peace and happiness to the people .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The people expect the President to maintain decorum ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ among his Minsters, and those around him.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mervyn Silva perhaps deserves sympathy, as his behaviour pattern is not of a normal person.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  He seems to take what is irrelevant, for relevant, and what is annoying and foolish, for amusement and wisdom.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Mr.Silva seems to think that he is capable of doing in ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ his own ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ way what the Government is not capable of doing through legislation.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Therefore he does what he thinks is correct.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  He acts without wise attention without reflecting on the consequence of his act.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ That is why on the face of it Mr. SilvaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s objectionable act of tying a government officer to a tree seems to be his way of driving into the minds of the public servants the necessity to be alive to problems that require their attention, and their ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ service to the public should be their primary concern.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  But he unfortunately acted without wise attention, without reflecting on the consequences of his act.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In the Sabbasava Sutta the BuddhaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  instructing the Bikkhus on the abandonmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  of taints says ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦Bikkhus an untaught ordinary personƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  , who has no regardƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  for noble ones and is unskilledƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and undisciplined in their Dhamma,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  who has no regard for true menƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and is unskilled andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  undisciplinedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  in their Dhamma, does not understand what things are fitƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  for attention and what things are unfit for attention. Since that is so , he attendsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to those thingsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  unfit for attention and he does not attend to those things fit for attentionƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚(MN.2. Tr.Bikkhu Bodhi).

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There is no reason that Mervyn SilvaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  should be excused each time he does some thing that damages theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  reputation of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  President, and the government amoung the people, and gives the opposition political parties to discredit the President and the Government for the acts committed by him.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He should not be allowed to be the Biblical prodigal son who feasts on the fattenedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  calf. But the situation has to be assessed from the several instances ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  his infractions, and action should be taken to stop a repetition, by sending him before a board of psychiatrists if necessary to evaluate his mental condition.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ That would be a service not only for the people of the country who have placed their trust in the President and the government for wise rule, but for Mr.Mervyn Silva himself, as he is certainly suffering from an ailment he is not aware of, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and which requires treatment.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It also would help the OppositionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  political parties- the UNP and the JVP to cooperate with the government to find an immediate solution ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  rid the country of the menace of the Dengue fever, instead of deviating to discredit the President and the Government,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to hide their own political nakedness.

2 Responses to “Mervyn Silva phenomenon”

  1. douglas Says:

    Well done and said Mr Perera. This is exactly what I wanted to drive home to HE. This man suffers from a very serious complex and he should be carefully watched. He said “I have a pistol with me and I will use it whenever required to prevent anyone standing on my way”. Is’nt that serious enough?

    As far as Dengu is concerned, it is not only the Government, but peoples’ responsibility to a larage extent that is responsible for its elemination. The people should be civic conscious and the Govt. has no doubt created a massive awareness towrds that goal. The opposition, that of UNP, JVP etc. are hell bent on making anything and everything towards achieving their goal of discrediting the Govt. and those “bankrupt” (although they have hidden funds received from NGOs etc) have been well exposed and people are now aware who they are and what they stand for. They are a bunch of “drifters” who care less about our motherland Sri Lanka.

    Well done HE. Keep this trend and follow the path of discipline and good governance. You will be a great leader and people of Sri Lanka will love you.

    I say again “Subha saha Yasa” (Subha and Yasa) legend shouldn’t be allowed to be re-enacted. Be watchful.

  2. Susantha Wijesinghe Says:

    DOUGLAS ! A small correction:- He said, ”’ I have the Pistol of Law with me, and I will use it when ever required “”. That cannot be construed as ” serious enough ” We have to be careful of mis-interpretations.

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