Jaffna library to be inter-linked with local universities

Rafik JALALDEEN

Northern Province Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri said the Jaffna Public Library will be computerized and inter-linked with all other local universities in the country to exchange information.

He said the Government has proposed to computerize the entire system of the Jaffna Public Library under the Uthuru Vasanthaya (Northern Spring) project. The Jaffna Public Library is one of the main libraries in the country.

The Jaffna Public Library was burnt down by a mob in June 1981. The library at the time of destruction was one of the biggest libraries in South Asia containing over 97,000 unique books and manuscripts. It has a very old history and was supported and nurtured by intellectuals. It was re-opened on February 14, 2003. The local area network system of the library will be computerized and inter-linked with local universities beginning from the Colombo University,” Chandrasiri told the Daily News.

He reiterated that a computerized environment will provide more opportunities to the students in Jaffna. Therefore, they will have the opportunity to expose themselves by obtaining information throughout the network system.

Meanwhile, the Northern Provincial Council has distributed 1,000 pairs of shoes to IDPs’ children at Gamini Maha Vidayalaya in Vavuniya on Monday.

He said another 100 cycles were distributed among the schoolchildren in the Jaffna Peninsula. “We are ready to face and provide more facilities to schoolchildren in the Northern Province,” he added.