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Rs. 70m to reconstruct Jaffna Library

From Pramod de Silva in Jaffna

Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Refugees Minister Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena on Sunday pledged to continue the reconstruction of the Jaffna Public Library, with the provision of Rs. 70 million needed urgently to restart work.

During an inspection tour of the library complex, which was destroyed in an act of arson in 1981, Minister Jayawardena said he would discuss the release of funds with the relevant authorities in Colombo and make all arrangements to expedite the project.

"This is a symbol of Tamil culture. We must rebuild it," he said.

Dr. Jayawardena, the first UNF government Minister to visit Jaffna, also visited the Nagaviharaya, the Sinnamadu Church in Kayts, several kovils and the main Jumma Mosque in Jaffna. He participated in Thaipongal ceremonies at the Nallur Kandasamy Kovil yesterday. This was the first time in several years that a Sinhala Minister participated in religious ceremonies at the historic Nallur Kovil.

Speaking briefly at the Nagaviharaya, the Minister said the government would continue to assist the highly venerated Viharaya. He was pleased that the Nagaviharaya had truly become a link between the North and the South. The government will make arrangements to hold the pinnacle ceremony and the Nethra pooja. A special service was conducted at the Sinnamadu church for the Minister and his delegation, which includes the Minister Assisting Vanni Rehabilitation Noordeen Mashoor, Hindu Affairs Minister T. Maheswaran and UN Goodwill Ambassador Rosy Senanayake. 

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