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Jaffna Library, South Asias finest, Sri Lanka`s jealousy
Saturday, 10 February 2007 - 10:12 PM SL Time |  | |
History
The library has a long history, dating back to the 1930s, a full 20 years before the Jaffna Public Library was formally inaugurated. From its early origins as a reading room, which was inaugurated on August 1, 1934, the library had evolved as a part of the Jaffna psyche and the desire of its people to attain higher levels of education. Early records say that the public response was so huge that crowds thronged the place despite the lack of chairs. This reading room was handed over to the Jaffna authorities on January 1, 1935. Then it had 844 books, of which 694 were gifts from the public, which included leading names of Jaffna society and institutions such as the Madras Bible Society, the Wesleyan Society, the Colombo Muslims Society and the Jaffna Traders Organisation. Owing to lack of space, the library was shifted to a larger premises in 1936.
On May 16, 1952, Sam A. Sabapathy, the then Jaffna Mayor, constituted the Jaffna Central Library Board as the governing body. The foundation stone for this library was laid on May 29, 1954 by the Mayor of Jaffna and a host of dignitaries, including top diplomats representing India, the United States and the United Kingdom. The Asian Development Programme and the Indian High Commissioner gave monetary assistance. Cultural programmes and public lotteries were organised to raise resources. Traders gifted vehicles for the project.
The name Jaffna Public Library, was given on October 17, 1958, during the construction phase. The library was opened on October 11, 1959, even as the construction was going on by Alfred T. Durayappa, the then Jaffna Mayor.
Destruction in 1981
Burning of Jaffna library was a watershed event in the ongoing Sri Lankan civil war. A Sinhalese mob went on a rampage on the nights of May 31 to June 2 1981, burning the market area of Jaffna, the office of a Tamil newspaper, the home of the member of Parliament for Jaffna, the Jaffna Public Library and killing four people.3 The destruction of the Jaffna Public Library was the incident which appeared to cause the most distress to the people of Jaffna. At the time it was South Asia`s biggest library. The 95,000 volumes of the Public Library destroyed by the fire included numerous culturally important and irreplaceable manuscripts. Witnesses reported the presence of uniformed security e officers in the mob and their involvement in the deaths of four individuals.3 [1]
Initial reports
According to Nancy Murray in an article titled, the State against the Tamils in Sri Lanka - Racism and the Authoritarian State - Race & Class , Summer 1984 wrote that several high ranking Sinhalese security officers and two cabinet ministers, Cyril Mathew and Gamini Dissanayakewere present in the town of Jaffna, uniformed security men and plainclothes thugs carried out some well organised acts of destruction.[2][3]
They burned to the ground certain chosen targets - including the Jaffna Public Library, with its 95,000 volumes and priceless manuscripts, a Hindu temple, the office and machinery of the independent Tamil daily newspaper Eelanadu.[4][5]
Four people were killed outright. No mention of this appeared in the national newspapers, not even the burning of the Library, the symbol of the Tamils` cultural identity. The government delayed bringing in emergency rule until 2 June, by which time key targets had been destroyed.[6][7]
The library`s curator died the moment he heard of the library`s demise[citation needed].
Allegation by President Premadasa
In 1991 the then president of Sri Lanka Premadasa publicly proclaimed that his party members Lalith Athulathmudali and Gamini Dissanayake were directly involved in the burning of the library in 1981[8]
Government investigation and results
According to Orville H.Schell, Chairman of the Americas Watch Committee, and Head of the Amnesty International 1982 fact finding mission to Sri Lanka, the government did not institute an independent investigation to establish responsibility for these killings in May and June 1981 and take measures against those responsible. Instead, one police officer involved was promoted and emergency legislation was introduced facilitating further killings.[9]
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Source(s)
various and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_of_Jaffna_library |
Sritharan
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10 Feb 2007 16:44:42 GMT Report for Abuse
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In 1991 the then president of Sri Lanka Premadasa publicly proclaimed that his party members Lalith Athulathmudali and Gamini Dissanayake were directly involved in the burning of the library in 1981.
This is a very important information to Sinhala members to know.
They always point finger at LTTE and Tamils for misery in Sri Lanka. Actually, it has been initiated in the South in the minds of Majority. |
KURAL
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10 Feb 2007 20:58:19 GMT Report for Abuse
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It was a voluntary cultural cleaning.
This temple had more than 90'000 rare and unique ola leaves manuscripts related to History, Science, Poems and lyrics, Novels, Theology and Astrology.
But all gone in the smoke.
Edited By - KURAL - 10 Feb 2007 20:58:47 GMT |
Robins
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13 Feb 2007 17:45:12 GMT Report for Abuse
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| WŁe know they are racists and thugs, not leaders of a civilised country!! |
Marzipan
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22 Feb 2007 00:59:59 GMT Report for Abuse
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Summer 1984 wrote that several high ranking Sinhalese security officers and two cabinet ministers, Cyril Mathew and Gamini Dissanayakewere present in the town of Jaffna, uniformed security men and plainclothes thugs carried out some well organised acts of destruction.
In 1991 the then president of Sri Lanka Premadasa publicly proclaimed that his party members Lalith Athulathmudali and Gamini Dissanayake were directly involved in the burning of the library in 1981.
I have always believed it was Cyril Mathew and Gamini who were involved in the burning of the Jaffna Library. Cyril Mathew was also seen leading/directing his thugs in Colombo North (Fort-Colpetty) during the ethnic cleansing in 1983. |
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