Protesters win the day at Jaffna University

By Norman Palihawadane and Dinasena Rathugamage 

A death fast commenced by five undergraduates of the Jaffna University came to an end soon after Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. S. Srisatkunarajah laid a foundation stone yesterday for te reconstruction of the Mullivaikkal memorial within the university premises. 

The death fast was launched in protest against the demolition of the memorial by the university administration on Friday night.

The policy reversal followed discussions between the university student representatives and the Vice Chancellor on Sunday night.

Yesterday morning the protesting students demanded that the VC himself lay the foundation stone. As the rains were continuing the VC wanted to put it off, but the students demanded that he do as they said despite rains.

The VC then again bowed to pressure and laid a foundation stone amidst rains and the students ended their agitation.  

“The foundation stone for a memorial to replace the demolished Mullivaikkal memorial at the university was laid today (Monday morning) led by Vice-Chancellor and the Hunger Strike came to an end,” Jaffna District Development Committee Co Chairman and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Parliamentarian Angajan Ramanathan said in a tweet.

A tense situation arose in Jaffna on Friday after the war monument in the Jaffna University was demolished by the university authorities.

Jaffna Mayor Vishwalingam Maniwannan was among those who gathered outside the gate with several students.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) earlier defended the decision to demolish the war monument in the Jaffna University.

Chairman of the University Grants Commission, Sampath Amaratunge had said that the war monument was a threat to the unity in the country.

He said that the war monument was constructed in 2018.

The UGC Chairman said that it was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jaffna, Prof. Sivakolundu Srisatkunarajah, who decided to remove the monument.