SLA cancels sports event leaving Jaffna students stranded in Trinco

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 June 2008, 00:55 GMT]
325 students and the teachers from Jaffna peninsula arriving in Trincomalee by ship to participate in the Northern Province Athletic Meet (NPAM) for students in Vavuniyaa Wednesday were left stranded due to the sudden cancellation of the event by the Governor of Northern Province. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) authorities had advised the Governor to cancel the event citing security reasons.

NPAM that was to be held in Vavuniyaa was cancelled once earlier due to similar reasons.

Of the more than a thousand students from Jaffna peninsula selected to participate in the NPAM, 325 students sailed on Tuesday to Trincomalee by passenger ship.

Other participants, who were to sail Wednesday, were asked to cancel the voyage by educational authorities in Trincomalee.

325 students with their teachers who are lodged in an open ground in Trincomalee Wednesday night are expected to sail back to Kaangkeasanththu’rai Thursday morning, education authorities in Trincomalee said.

Jaffna Government Agent, in announcement to the media in Jaffna Wednesday night, informed that the passenger ship will be available for travel starting Thursday.

Douglas Devananda, Leader of Eelam Peoples Democaratic Party (EPDP) and a cabinet minister in Sri Lanka government was said to be behind the move to hold the event.

Affected parents and students allege political power struggle as the reason for the cancellation.