Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Genre: Law / Human Rights / Political Analysis

Book Review:
Deterioration of the Legal Intellect in Sri Lanka is a powerful and urgent work from Basil Fernando, a distinguished jurist and human rights activist who received the Right Livelihood Award (Alternative Nobel Prize) in 2014. This collection of essays offers a searing critique of the assault on the legal and judicial system in Sri Lanka over four decades of authoritarian rule.

Fernando's analysis is both rigorous and deeply personal. He traces the systematic erosion of legal institutions, the undermining of judicial independence, and the manipulation of the law for political ends. The essays are short but incisive, each one addressing a specific aspect of the crisis. The author's expertise and moral authority are evident on every page.

The book is particularly timely because it addresses the challenge of rebuilding the legal system following the electoral change of January 8, 2015. Fernando argues that understanding the depth of the damage is essential to undertaking the necessary reforms. He calls for a public discussion on these fundamental issues, warning that ignoring them will only lead to further peril.

This book is essential reading for lawyers, judges, activists, policymakers, and anyone concerned about the state of the law and democracy in Sri Lanka. It is a courageous and necessary contribution to the national conversation.