Tutorial colleges burnt down in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 January 2011, 07:43 GMT]
A leading tutorial college, Universal Tution Centre located near Hindu Ladies College in Jaffna was burnt down by unknown persons on Saturday, the day when the SL colonial commander in Jaffna Maj. Gen Hathurusinghe anticipated further escalation of crimes and announced that the military will start policing the district. The destruction of the two buildings of the institution causes millions of rupees loss to the owners. TNA politician P. Ainkaranesan who now actively campaigns in the local bodies elections owned the institution earlier. Meanwhile, another leading tutorial college, Science Hall in the city was also burnt down a month ago.

In the last several decades when the Sri Lankan state was systematically eroding the public educational institutions of Eezham Tamils, the tutorial colleges were largely compensating that. In the process the tutorial centres became a lucrative business as well as centres of activity for free thinking youth.

The burning of the tutorial colleges, amidst an ongoing terror campaign in Jaffna, raises several questions in the minds of the people.