Burning of Jaffna Library Remembered

[TamilNet, Monday, 01 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
People in Jaffna will wear black ribbon today to mark the burning of the Jaffna Public Library 17 years ago, said PLOTE and EPRLF sources in Jaffna. The library, burnt to the ground on the 1st of June 1981 by Sri Lankan Police, contained the largest collection of Tamil literature in Asia, a collection that included many irreplaceable manuscripts.

Widely regarded by the Tamil community as an act of cultural vandalism, the destruction of the library by the predominantly Sinhalese police has long been a point of resentment.

In January last year Jaffna library was reopened at temporary premises.


Meanwhile, Jaffna University is planning celebrations to mark its silver jubilee next year.

Prof. P. Balasuntharampillai, Vice Chancellor of the University, will co-ordinate committees that have been formed to arrange various activities, said university sources .

Prof. S. Suthanthirarajah (International relations and Media contacts), Prof. V.K. Ganeshalingam (exhibition), Mr. Nadarajasunthiram (sports activities) and Prof. B.Gobalakrishnan (other matters) will lead the committees, said university sources.