Hartley, Methodist re-open amid unease

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 September 2002, 19:13 GMT]
Student turn out was very low when the Sri Lanka army permitted the reopening of Hartley College and Pt. Pedro Methodist Girls High School in Jaffna Monday amid tensions, teachers said. The two schools were shut down by the SLA last week when students and parents, who were protesting against the military, urging it to remove its bunkers and defence positions around the two schools, stormed the checkpoints and demolished some.

Education officials in Vadamaradchi said the attendance of students was very poor on Monday. Advanced level students from the two schools did not attend classes due to fear, teachers said.

Of more two thousand students at Hartley College only around 180 attended classes Monday, teachers said. Of about 3000 students at Methodist Girls High School only 440 attended. Armed Police units have been posted in sentry points at the junction of the main road that leads to these schools.

Members of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission in Jaffna were seen at the Police sentry points close to the schools.

Additional police personnel were brought in four buses and were kept till evening on Monday to ensure security in the area.

The Defence Ministry Secretary last week at a conference held in Jaffna said that Point Pedro still remains a high security zone and it won’t be possible to open the coastal road for public.

Related Articles:
07.09.02   Point Pedro high security zone to remain
05.09.02   Hartley and Methodist Girls reopen