University of Jaffna: 50 years of challenges, resilience and excellence

The University of Jaffna, located in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, has a rich and complex history deeply intertwined with the region’s cultural, social, and political landscape.

The University of Jaffna was officially established on 6 October, 1974, as the sixth campus of the University of Sri Lanka, under the name “Jaffna Campus of the University of Sri Lanka.” The institution began with a few faculties and a limited number of students, focusing primarily on arts and science disciplines.

If I may add some little known facts about how our first batch of students who joined the Jaffna Campus, lobbied the Government which resulted in then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike to consider establishing this campus!

This was in early 1974, the intake of undergraduates to the university campuses (then it was one university i.e. the University of Sri Lanka and others were campuses – Colombo, Kelaniya, etc.) Around 130 students who were in the mathematics stream, selected to the Moratuwa University (Katubedda Campus then) were informed that due to facility limitations, they would have to wait until next year to enter the university, with the option of selecting a campus of their choice.

Majority of students were frustrated having to wait for one long year to enter the university! Then, a small group of students, mainly from Ananda College, Colombo got together and invited the other students selected to the Katubedda campus, to the University Senate House (now it is University Grants Commission) via a paper advertisement for a discussion. Most of the students responded to this advertisement including students from Jaffna. Then we had to come up with a strategy to influence the policy makers to provide us with university entrance early, during the same year. At that time there was only one Vice Chancellor as there was only one university and he was the late L.H. Sumanadasa who took a keen interest and supported our request, but he was not successful as existing campuses were already full. 

Pioneering batch to the Jaffna Campus

Then we took up our case in the Parliament through parliamentarians Vasudaeva Nanayakkara and Late Sarath Muthtettugama from our area known, to my father. After several meetings, discussions then Prime Minister Late Sirimavo Bandaranaike decided to open a campus in Jaffna utilising certain school buildings available in Jaffna to accommodate the intake. The Government was successful in acquiring buildings from Jaffna College in Waddukotte and Paramesevara College, Tirunelveli. More than 95% of the students of the selected batch agreed to go to Jaffna and the first President (as it’s a campus) was Late Prof. K. Kailasapathy. The Jaffna Campus of the University of Sri Lanka was declared open by the then Prime Minister in October 1974. We had the opportunity of becoming the pioneering batch to the Jaffna Campus!

The Jaffna I knew was not beyond the famous “night-mail” at that time! Most of our batch, anxious to gain a university degree knew no more about, than Jaffna peninsula being “a barren land, listless landscape of sand studded with palmyrah trees”. Nevertheless, I had learnt more of the culture and wealth of educational heritage, industry, diligence and hardworking disposition of those in the Jaffna peninsula. I was ready to face the new environment. It did not take long for all of us from the so-called south to accept the values and the systems of the north.

Hailing from Avissawella with a background where my father and mother, both school teachers, who thought, lived and worked tirelessly to promote “education” in the broadest sense of the word. I owe it to my nurturing that I matured in thought even in childhood sans phobias of race and religion, though born into a Sinhala family with deep roots in the south.

We the few from the south were received initially with doubt, distrust and apprehension by not only our students but also by the man on the street! We were “foreigners” but it did not take much time for us to feel like one in a wholesome environment of acceptance, trust and respect for our values. Our values were obviously recognised as being trustworthy and respecting of the value systems of those nurtured in the lifestyle of the peninsula.

Talking about the way of life of those in the Jaffna peninsula, it would be difficult not to appreciate the psyche of those hardworking individuals. The man in his plot of land was seen to toil to water his soil by 4:30 a.m. in the morning. I could visit my tutor, lecturer or even the professor by 6 a.m. to seek tutorial clarifications. My respect for the acceptance and accommodation extended by the people of Jaffna towards the Sinhala and Muslim brethren from the so called south grew by the day.

Camaraderie and solidarity

As our “Uni” life continued, I was requested by my batch mates to contest for the position of President of the Science Students Union. It was a surprise to be appointed unanimously! Then the day came when I was prompted to contest for the post of the President of the Students Council. If one were to doubt communal harmony, the lasting testimony was that I was elected the first President of the Students Union of the University of Jaffna. This election was in the second year of my four-year academic career. It must speak volumes of the camaraderie and solidarity we enjoyed to insist that I continued as the President of the Students Council till the last year of my eventful academic career in the university.

There are many who speak of ethnic harmony. Many are the views published in the media about “Rights” of communities. My personal experiences gained by first-hand knowledge of having lived and learnt with diverse minority communities is that they seek not so many “rights” but acceptance as competitors on an even-playing field. We were not in Jaffna on a whistle stop visit. We lived there for four years, initially to face scrutiny, and thereafter to merit unreserved acceptance. The erudite academic staff of the university will always be revered with respect for their quality of commitment and for the unquantifiable knowledge they imparted with dedication apart from the lasting values they instilled in us.

It is relevant also to record that value for learning in general and education in particular was so high that when we visited to the Government hospital for medical attention, the medical officer would prescribe that “students” be treated first. This is just but an example of well-founded priorities. They sought education through intense industry but yet, they did respect superior intellect and leadership, on merit.

I would be doing a disservice to the readers if I do not write about the challenging history beyond my stay at the university. The early years of the university were marked by steady growth, with the establishment of additional faculties, including the Faculty of Medicine, which started in 1978. The Faculty of Medicine became one of the most prominent and respected medical schools in the country.

In 1979, the Jaffna Campus gained autonomy from the University of Sri Lanka and became the University of Jaffna. This transition allowed for greater academic freedom and the ability to chart its own course in terms of curriculum development and administration.

During the 1980s, the university continued to expand its academic offerings, establishing new faculties such as Agriculture and Engineering, further enhancing its reputation as a comprehensive educational institution.

The impact of the Civil War (1980s-2009), which began in the early 1980s, had a profound impact on the University of Jaffna. Located in a conflict zone, the university faced numerous challenges, including disruptions to academic activities, damage to infrastructure, and the displacement of students and faculty.

Despite these challenges, the university remained a vital centre of education and research in the Northern Province displaying remarkable resilience. It continued to operate, although under difficult circumstances, and played a crucial role in preserving the cultural and intellectual life of the Tamil community during the war years.

The post-war recovery and development following the end of the civil war in 2009, started with the University of Jaffna embarking on a period of reconstruction and development. Efforts were made to rebuild damaged infrastructure, expand academic programs, and restore normalcy to campus life.

Expansion of facilities in recent years has shown that the university has seen significant growth in terms of student enrolment and the establishment of new faculties and departments. It now offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines, including humanities, sciences and engineering, agriculture, and health sciences.

Research and Innovation is another area the university has been focusing on enhancing its research capabilities, particularly in areas relevant to the region’s needs, such as agriculture, medicine, and social sciences.

Humans of the same ilk

Coming back to my experience; the final analysis, the people of Jaffna, from the illustrious academics to the humble industrious farmer, accepted us as humans of the same ilk. They accepted us as humane as those grown-up in the peninsula. It was more than evident that they sought to merge in thought and deed than divide. The alumni of this prestigious and premier university which has produced over thousands of graduates today will endeavour to forge much more than so-called communal harmony.

I learned that the distinguished Benjamin Disraeli said in the House of Commons as far back as 11 March, 1873, that “A University should be a place of light, liberty as well as learning”. Drawing from the thoughts, I wish to amplify that the benefits that the University of Jaffna provided all of us “commoners” with the light and liberty that we sought in our youth, in abundance!

The University of Jaffna has produced professionals par excellence in various fields and offer their services not only in Sri Lanka but also around the world including politicians serving globally and locally.

To conclude this article dedicated to Jaffna University on a sentimental note, I must not forget to mention that I found my life’s partner, my beloved wife who too was a member from our batch!

I wish the University of Jaffna prosperity and progress to foster further educational excellence. We the alumni of the Colombo chapter are hopeful of going to Jaffna to seek our academic roots. Most of our mentors are no more, but the few of our yesteryear colleagues have promised to meet us at the airport not at the old railway station!

(The writer was in the first batch of students who has served Sri Lanka in various capacities holding top positions in public and private sector institutions including multinational corporations, universities, trade chambers and service organisations especially Lions International-306B2 Sri Lanka as its District Governor in 2009-2010. He is the incumbent Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Sri Lanka Export Board.)