Request for Dedication of Book - James Manor

13 February 2006

Department of Politics
The University
Leicester

13th February, 1984.

Mr. S. Nadesan, QC,
Colombo-3, SRI LANKA.

Dear Mr. S. Nadesan,

You will probably not recall it, but in 1980 you and I met very briefly at your home. I was collecting information for a biography of Mr. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and I asked you a few questions about your memories of him.

I am writing now to ask whether you might permit a group of scholars to dedicate a book on recent political change in Lanka jointly to you and to Mr. Ralph Deraniyagala. I am the editor of the book, and it contains papers by fourteen scholars from Britain, America, France and Lanka. It is called Sri Lanka in Change and Crisis and it will be published by Croom Helm in London in August.

Half of the book deals with the presidential election and referendum of 1982 and the other half with the violence of 1983. The contributors represent a diversity of view although most of them are critical of the present government. The book also contains, however, an essay putting the government's case by Mr. Lalith Athulathmudali.

Ralph Deraniyagala has already agreed to this dedication, and we would be very pleased if you also gave us your approval.

I am no doubt a biased observer, but I believe that this will be the most important book to appear on Sri Lanka in the last four or five years. We are particularly keen to dedicate the book to you because to us you represent the judicial process in Lanka at its best, and a determination to fight for humane values.

In London recently, a group of scholars held a one-day conference to discuss the events of mid-1983 in Sri Lanka. It was a very lively occasion and we were especially pleased that Mr. N. Satyendra could be present to make such a useful contribution. I told him that we were hoping to dedicate this book to you, and he was very pleased.

With best wishes,
Sincerely,
James Manor