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Jaffna Library opening postponed

by Ranil Wijayapala and Ranga Jayasuriya

The members of the Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) yesterday decided to postpone indefinitely the opening of the restored Jaffna Public Library scheduled for today.

The council members announced their resignation, dissapointed over the postponment.

The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF)-run JMC took this decision following LTTE threats to hold a mass demonstration on the opening day.

"The decision was taken in the national interest and to avoid any unpleasant incident," TULF President V. Anandasangaree who was tipped to be the chief guest at the opening ceremony told the Daily News last night.

"We were under great preassure from the LTTE," he said.

The members of the council announced their resignation around 7.30 pm yesterday in an expression of their disappointment over the incident.

The 23 members comprised TULF (nine members), EPDP (6), PLOTE (6) and EPRLF (two). The council was due to be dissolved on February 17.

Jaffna Mayor Selliah Kandayan earlier reported death threats from armed gangs and other organisations in Jaffna insisting him to postpone the opening ceremony to another date.

Until yesterday the Mayor stood firm on the opening date.

There had been several threats to the security guards at the library and the key of the library had been taken away from these security guards by an armed gang on Wednesday night.

Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees Minister Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena told the Daily News last night that the scheduled opening ceremony of the library was postponed following the decision taken by the Jaffna Municipal Council.

The Minister said that the Government was not involved in taking this decision as the library comes under the Jaffna Municipal Council, and it is up to the Council to fix another date for the opening.

Earlier the JMC governed by the TULF unanimously resolved to open the library on February 14, and have TULF leader V. Anandasangaree as the chief guest.

The Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees Ministry had the responsibility of completing the reconstruction of the library.

The Government wanted this library to be opened before February 17, the date of dissolution of the JMC, the Minister added.

The reopening of Jaffna library after two decades was eagerly awaited as it is considered a landmark event in view of the ethnic reconciliation process. The library equipped with all modern facilities was restored at a cost of Rs. 120 million.

The initial reconstruction work commenced by the PA government was continued by the UNF government. UNESCO and the Ford Foundation has donated books worth several millions of rupees.

The Jaffna library which was said to be the best in South Asia stood as a treasure trove of knowledge imparting wisdom to all since its opening in October 1959. It contained rare and valuable books and exclusive ola leaf manuscripts. It was set ablaze on June 1, 1981. The initial construction work was nearing completion in 1983 when war broke out and the building was damaged by shells and bombs. 

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