tw news-features

By Arthur Wamanan

The Jaffna University plans to begin its academic activities during the first week of January.

Registrar, Jaffna University, P. Kandasamy however said there was no final decision on the matter yet.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader on this issue, he said there were several requests by the students and parents to restart academic activities as soon as possible.

The campus has been closed to the students since August. However, Kandasamy said the administrative staff continued to attend to their work.

“We have plans to open the campus during the first week of January. But, it is not confirmed,” he said.

He added that the academic activities of the third and the final year students were planned to commence this month.

“We have planned to commence academic activities for the third year and the final year students. The rest will be planned later,” he said.

He however stated that issues such as lodging for outside students had to be looked into.

“There are many students who are from places like Vavuniya and Batticaloa. Some of the students have even gone to Colombo due to the unstable security situation. Those students should also be taken into consideration. They also should have proper lodgings if they are to come back,” he said.

Students who had come to Colombo said it was highly unlikely that they would return to Jaffna to continue their studies.

A final year student said he had no plans of going back to the peninsula.

“It is practically impossible to live there with all the food shortages and security problems. It would only increase if students start to go there. I have only six months to complete my degree, but who knows what will happen within that time?” he said.

Civilians in Jaffna lack essentials:

Civilians in the Jaffna peninsula are experiencing a shortage of sanitary items such as soap.

Parish Priest of the Church of Our Lady of Refuge (OLR) Rev. Fr. Niruban Nishananth said the prices of such items were also very high.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader he said prices of other commodities also remained high.

“The civilians in the peninsula are now experiencing shortage of soap and shampoo. The prices of these items in the market are way too high. The price of a cake of soap is Rs. 125. How can the people afford it?” he said. He also said that there was a severe shortage of baby soap.

He however stated the situation regarding essential items such as rice and sugar was improving.

“These items are given by the co-operative stores in the area. The people have to buy these items using the ration cards given by the government. These items are also expensive, but very much cheaper than the soap and shampoo,” he said.

Speaking further, Rev.Fr. Nishananth said queues were seen in almost all the shops.

“People are not happy, because of the situation. But, the new year is round the corner. Some of the people are buying stuff for the new year despite these difficulties,” he added.

Speaking on the distribution process, Rev. Fr.Nishananth said there were a few drawbacks in distribution in most of the main towns.

“This is mainly because these areas are highly populated. This is not the case in the remote villages. But, the situation is improving, except for the prices,” he added. [thesundayleader.lk]