University Of Jaffna – A New Beginning
Prof S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole
Every tidbit of news from University Jaffna seemed troubling if not horrible over the past years – a don caught having sex in his office with a student and still being appointed VC, the present VC forcing senior academics to endorse best wishes for President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s re-election, a Dean altering receipts and still continuing in office, violation of tender procedures and the person responsible being appointed VC, pre-Council meetings where Council members were told exactly how to vote, a book discussion banned by the present VC and the VC telling the BBC that the Teachers’ Union and students had asked for the ban even as the University Teachers’ Association President Amirthalingam Rasakumaran denied that he had written to the VC asking for the ban of the book discussion, appointments in violation of the ordinances of the UGC and the Universities Act, etc.
Problems at other universities seemed to have been decisively cleared afer the new government was returned but not at Jaffna. It was said that the old council members appointed by Douglas Devananda and dutifully rubber stamped by the UGC had refused to resign upon being asked to do so. Ironically the UGC chairperson had resigned but the council members at Jaffna were hanging on under the leadership of Council Member and former VC Prof. P. Balasundarampillai. Even within the TNA which had worked for the election of this government, cracks were emerging as some TNA stalwarts grumbled that the reforms of January 8 did not seem to reach Jaffna. However, Mr. R. Sampanthan, the staid TNA leader, remained complacent and confident. And he was right.
For suddenly the skies seemed to clear. Global Tamil News just reported that a new set of external council members have been appointed. In effect, the old incorrigible Devananda Council had been fired. The TNA had made input to the process. Mr. R. Sampanthan had devolved the responsibility of liaising with the government to MPs Mavai Senathirajah, M.A. Sumanthiran and E. Saravanapavan and they have done an excellent job working with Minister for Higher Education Sarath Amunugama. Jaffna University Science Teachers’ Union too had worked with the TNA in successfully getting sound people on board.Read More
