The Sri Lankan government has denied its involvement in the destruction of the memorial at Jaffna University honouring the tens of thousands of lives lost in the Mullivaikkal massacre in 2009.
Cabinet co-spokesman Udaya Gammanpila said the government had not taken a “policy decision” on the matter and the responsibility lay with the University Grants Commission and university authorities. Chair of the University Grants Commission, Sampath Amaratunge, defended the decision last week, arguing that the monument threatened unity in the country. However Jaffna University Vice Chancellor S. Srisatkunarajah admitted that the decision had been taken as a result of pressure from the Sri Lankan government and military.
On Monday, construction was reportedly started on a new monument at Jaffna University to replace the destroyed one with the help of the Jaffna University Vice Chancellor S. Srisatkunarajah and university students after tensions grew in Jaffna. Scepticism remains since the Vice Chancellor stated that the new monument would be a 'peace monument'.
We need your support
Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.
Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view
We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.
For more ways to donate visit https://donate.tamilguardian.com.