Destroyed university awaits repairs

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The University of Jaffna has sustained damages amounting to sixty five million Sri Lankan rupees (over one million US dollars) between October 1995 and April 1996 said officials of the university today.

This estimate includes destruction of buildings and the loss of a large quantity of valuable equipment including material required during convocations.

The science faculty has sustained damages to the tune of rupees 20.78 million during this period.

Its laboratories were all destroyed in the shelling and fighting that occured when the SLA moved into the outskirts of the Jaffna town during the first phase of Operation Riviresa.

The arts faculty requires 5.7 million rupees for repairs and reconstruction and the destruction to the administration section has been estimated to be 10.6 million rupees worth. The extent of destruction caused to the buildings in the university is estimated as 30.9 million rupees.

The university is still awaiting funds for repair, reconstruction and the replacement of books and scientific instruments. Part of the remarkable collection of books in the university library are missing or have been destroyed.

Officials of the University say that it will take many years to get the Jaffna university on its former footing if the very slow pace of Sri Lankan government's assistance, which has thus far come only on paper, was to continue in the same manner.

"Funds are promised. But nothing reaches us in Jaffna" said an exasperated senior academic of the University today.