The situation in the University of Jaffna campus is entirely peaceful and arrangements have been made to start all academic activities very soon, said Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Deputy Minister Kaunaratna Paranavithana.
He said so after a special observation team of Ministers visited the Jaffna University campus today (19) and held discussions with all relevant Government officials as well as student representatives. Disaster Management Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Prison Reforms and Rehabilitation Minister D M Swaminathan were also members of the Ministerial delegation who took part in the observation tour.
Explaining the actual situation in the Jaffna University campus and future steps to be taken the Deputy Minister further said: “During our observation tour today we saw that the situation in the campus is entirely peaceful and all students were moving about freely there. We could also have a very fruitful discussion with the Vice Chancellor, the Academic Staff and members of the Senate as well as the Jaffna District Secretary and specially Student Union representatives. Student representatives comprising students from Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities consented to make a positive contribution towards steps that will be taken to bring back to normalcy the situation in the campus.
“The most favourable situation we witnessed was the acceptance by the students that incidents that took place were very unfortunate and their pledge to ensure that such incidents will not be repeated. This message should be communicated to the South, they requested. The firm and unanimous anticipation of the students was to see the resumption of academic activities in the University very soon. Actually we all understand that a small incident has been magnified in this instance. There is no such situation here as portrayed in the South.
“The Vice Chancellor, all academic staff and other officials who participated in the discussion gave an assurance that steps will be taken to resume normal academic activities. According the Vice Chancellor ensured us that Faculties at Vavuniya and Kilinochchi belonging to the University of Jaffna will re-open tomorrow (20) . We expect that all academic activities would be completely restored to normalcy by next Monday (25).
“Relevant officials also told us that appropriate disciplinary action would be taken against students responsible for the incident after investigating all evidence including video footages.
“We observed that students from the South are moving about freely in the campus. There is good cooperation among all students – Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim. Shops and bazaars are open as before. Only a few girl students from the South have gone home but they would also return once academic activities are resumed. There are no obstacles to University activities.”
The Deputy Minister also commended the commitment of all parties to bring back to normalcy the situation in the campus and promised to take all measures necessary from the Government side to ensure that no such unfortunate incidents will be repeated in the future.
A large number of officials including the Jaffna University Vice Chancellor Professor Wasanthi Arasaratnam were present at the discussion. The Vice Chancellor confirmed that Vavuniya and Kilinochchi faculties would open tomorrow and that arrangements have been made to resume academic activities in the Medical and Ayurvedha faculties. She also ensured that the Arts faculty examinations will be held on the 25th .