Legal luminary who did much for our dumb friends
When many people will remember him for his professional brilliance and outstanding public service, we will always remember C.R. de Silva, President’s Counsel, former Attorney General, for his deep commitment to the cause of animals and his tremendous compassion, in his words for “our voiceless friends.” His commitment and compassion were not limited to words, where sadly today, most people lament the unfortunate plight of animals and do nothing, but expect others to act to alleviate their suffering. His was a commitment displayed through a multitude of actions, some of which we would like to place on record, in appreciation of him. Mr. de Silva’s immense contribution towards the protection of animals was in addition to many other deserving causes that he supported, but this appreciation is especially in memory and honour of his sincere passion for animal welfare.
Mr. de Silva’s passion for the welfare of animals was amply demonstrated by his contribution towards law reform in animal rights. As Attorney General, he empathised with the concerns of the Animal Welfare Trust about the fate of cattle taken into police custody, upon arresting those alleged to have committed offences against these animals, such as illegal transport, slaughter and cruelty. He immediately took this matter up with the highest state authorities and was successful in getting the Animals Act amended to empower courts to hand over the care and custody of cattle and other livestock to animal welfare organizations, pending the conclusion of cases, without the courts being compelled to hand over the animals back to the accused, who most often happened to be the butcher.
Though the destruction of dogs as a rabies control measure has been halted by a Presidential decree of 2006 and the recognized alternative is sterilization, we still hear of brutal killings ordered by State and local authorities in various parts of the country, in defiance of this decree. It is in this background that we are grateful to Mr. de Silva for having funded individuals and organisations engaged in animal welfare to conduct what we call CNVR (Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate and Release) programmes for dogs, to reduce the dog population and thereby the incidence of rabies through a humane method.
Mr. de Silva sponsored caring individuals who daily fed roaming dogs and cats, normally called “strays” and chased away and beaten by insensitive humans. Whenever he saw these animals being fed, he used to stop his vehicle and inquire about their well being and offer more assistance.
Over the last four years, we along with oth- ers, organised peaceful protests and signature campaigns appealing to the government for a legal ban on the barbaric practice of animal sacrifice at the Sri Bhadrakali Amman Kovil in Munneswaran, where at one time, the police even obtained a court order to stop our peaceful protests and watched hundreds of goats and fowl being brutally massacred in public in the kovil premises, giving police protection for the mass slaughter! When as a last resort, we thought of seeking court intervention to prevent the slaughter, it was Mr. de Silva who offered to appear for us pro bono in the Court of Appeal, dedicating many hours of his valuable time, and won the case for us with his characteristic advocacy skills. Since this landmark judgment was delivered as recently as August (a few days after the last birthday he celebrated), it was perhaps the last if not one of the last judgments in which he brought success to us, his clients. That victory was of more personal than of professional value to him.
Over a long period of time he had saved hundreds of cattle from slaughter, visiting slaughterhouses to select the most vulnerable of the animals to be saved, such as pregnant cows and cow calves and engaging in what he called the “heartbreaking” task of not being able to save all the animals that were being kept in the slaughterhouses under the most squalid and cruel circumstances.
He was joyous when the government leased a 25 acre plot of land in Maha Oya, to the Cattle Protection Trust (of which he was the Chairman) to set up a Cattle Sanctuary, to provide shelter to cattle saved from slaughter and to assure them an “honourable death” when the time finally came. For Mr. de Silva, it was a matter of gratitude – to an animal that has served mankind, so faithfully, in many ways over the centuries. The sanctu- ary was set up last year. Mr. de Silva eagerly wanted to visit the sanctuary, but was unfortunately not able to do so. However, he totally dedicated himself to ensure that the cattle in the sanctuary received the best of care, even to the extent of obtaining funds from the President’s Fund in order to develop the infrastructure there.
Mr. de Silva was truly an enlightened man who believed in the need for co-existence between man and animal and the need to give animals the space to live a life free of pain and cruelty. Here, it is apt to quote Albert Einstein, “Our task must be to free ourselves………..by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty”.
A man who led by example, may his dedication to justice for all living beings, both humans and animals, inspire others.
May Kamalini, Dulantha and Erandie, Kushan, Dilushika and Kaveesha, and Shehan find solace and comfort in the thought that his was indeed a life dedicated not just to his family, BUT to all sentient beings, including those in the animal realm. Iranganie, Lorraine, Lalani,
Sharmini and Visakha (Animal Welfare Trust, Animal Protection
Trust and Cattle Protection Trust)