Jaffna VC advises students to be vigilant of personal security

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 March 2007, 19:02 GMT]
Prof.R.Kumaravadivel, Acting Vice chancellor (VC) of University of Jaffna speaking at the occasion of a memorial service organized by the Students Union at the campus advised the students that they should take the necessary steps to protect themselves. He emphasized that the students should make every effort to complete their course of study even amidst the difficult conditions prevailing in Jaffna. Hundreds of undergraduates gathered outside Kailaspathy Hall in the University campus Friday morning at 10:00a.m.to mourn the death of Sivaranjan, an undergraduate of the university shot dead Thursday by unidentified gunmen.

The function was attended by Acting VC, a number of lecturers and many members of non academic staff. At the commencement of the function the student union president lit the flame of sacrifice. The VC and other members of the university community then garlanded the photograph of Sivaranjan. The representatives of the student union paid floral tribute their collegue.

The VC in his address advised the students to take precautionary measures to safeguard their lives.

"The university administration is unable to ensure the safety of the undergraduates. As such I would like to advise the students to take preventive measures to guard themselves.

"They should avoid congregating and moving about in unsafe areas They should bear in mind to the situation faced by two teenage students in Thenmaradchy.The students have staged a number of peaceful protests but the Government of Sri Lanka(GOSL)has not taken any steps to address their concerns," the VC told the students.

Prof.R.Sivachandran, Dean of the Faculty of Arts speaking said that repeated killing of students have created fear factor among the students .However, they should endeavour to complete their education even under such difficult circumstances.

The undergraduates continued their peaceful protest by fasting throughout the day.

Beginning Monday there will be one week of mourning for Late Sivaranjan, a student spokesman said.



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