Rising from the Ashes Tragic Episode of the Jaffna Library (A Reference Guide for Researchers) Rising from the Ashes Tragic Episode of the Jaffna Library (A Reference Guide for Researchers) Rising from the Ashes Tragic Episode of the Jaffna Library (A Reference Guide for Researchers) N.Selvarajah (Compiler) Rising from the Ashes Tragic Episode of the Jaffna Library (A Reference Guide for Researchers) Compiler : N.Selvarajah First published in the UK by Thesam Publishers (June 2003) Revised Edition 01 June, 2021 (40th Year Anniversary) Published by: Thesam Publications, P.O.Box 35806, London E11 3JX Printed by: Setline data Limited, London Cover Designed by: T.Jeyabalan Thesam Publications Pages: x - 185 2021 Rising from the Ashes Tragic Episode of the Jaffna Library (A Reference Guide for Researchers) N.Selvarajah (Compiler) Rising from the Ashes Tragic Episode of the Jaffna Library (A Reference Guide for Researchers) Compiler : N.Selvarajah First published in the UK by Thesam Publishers (June 2003) Revised Edition 01 June, 2021 (40th Year Anniversary) Published by: Thesam Publications, P.O.Box 35806, London E11 3JX Printed by: Setline data Limited, London Cover Designed by: T.Jeyabalan Thesam Publications Pages: x - 185 2021 N.Selvarajah v Contents 1. Introduction (N.Selvarajah) 1 2. History Can’t be wiped out by Fire (N.Selvarajah) 3 3. Jaffna Library (Overland Ceylon Observer) 7 4. Library’s Baptism by Fire (K.Nesiah) 8 5. What sort of animals are these? (President Speaks...) 11 6. Statement- Citizens Committee for National Harmony (Extract) 12 7. Appeal- Citizens Committee for National Harmony 14 8. Aid Pours in (Tamil Times-London) 15 9. Donation- The Colombo Municipal Council (Tamil Times-London) 15 10 Onation from Malaysian MP (Tamil Times-London) 15 11. Cultural Incineration (H.A.I.Goonetileke) 16 12. Indictment against Sri Lanka: Destruction of Jaffna Public Library (Tamil Nation) 18 13. Jaffna Public Library Restoration Project General Appeal by the Jaffna Municipal Council 23 14. The Jaffna Mayor’s Public Library Appeal 24 15. The Jaffna Mayor Thanks all those who have responded to his Public Library Appeal 26 16. Foundation laid for Library (Tamil Times-London) 29 17. Public Library Rises out of the Ashes (Saturday Review-Jaffna) 29 18. Doubts about Library Funds (Saturday Review-Jaffna) 30 N.Selvarajah v Contents 1. Introduction (N.Selvarajah) 1 2. History Can’t be wiped out by Fire (N.Selvarajah) 3 3. Jaffna Library (Overland Ceylon Observer) 7 4. Library’s Baptism by Fire (K.Nesiah) 8 5. What sort of animals are these? (President Speaks...) 11 6. Statement- Citizens Committee for National Harmony (Extract) 12 7. Appeal- Citizens Committee for National Harmony 14 8. Aid Pours in (Tamil Times-London) 15 9. Donation- The Colombo Municipal Council (Tamil Times-London) 15 10 Onation from Malaysian MP (Tamil Times-London) 15 11. Cultural Incineration (H.A.I.Goonetileke) 16 12. Indictment against Sri Lanka: Destruction of Jaffna Public Library (Tamil Nation) 18 13. Jaffna Public Library Restoration Project General Appeal by the Jaffna Municipal Council 23 14. The Jaffna Mayor’s Public Library Appeal 24 15. The Jaffna Mayor Thanks all those who have responded to his Public Library Appeal 26 16. Foundation laid for Library (Tamil Times-London) 29 17. Public Library Rises out of the Ashes (Saturday Review-Jaffna) 29 18. Doubts about Library Funds (Saturday Review-Jaffna) 30 N.Selvarajah vii viii Rising from the Ashes Tragic Episode of the Jaffna Library 19. Another Library up in Flame (Saturday Review-Jaffna) 30 36. Library books for Sri Lanka (The Vine: Northampton Diocesan News) 69 20. Acknowledgements (C.V.K. Sivagnanam Municipal Commissioner, Jaffna) 32 37. Two decades after the burning down of the Jaffna library in Sri Lanka (Vilani Peris) 70 21. The Library is for Burning (Saturday Review-Jaffna) 35 38. Culture in Ashes: The Path to Civil War: Effort to Rebuild 22. On the Jaffna Library Arson: 1981 Poem 36 Tamil Library Becomes a Symbol of Sri Lanka’s Struggle (S.Karunanandarajah) (Celia W. Dugger) 74 23. Institutional Services of the Jaffna Public Library 39. Library reconstruction to hide cultural genocide? (Mrs. R.Nadarajah, Librarian) 39 (S. Somitharan) 77 24. From India with Love (Saturday Review-Jaffna) 45 40. Opening of the Jaffna Public Library (Tamil Net) 79 25. Burning of the Jaffna Library - A Konstradt for Thousands 41. Do we begin the Esela Perahera with the Randoli? of Tamils May 1992 - Eleventh Anniversary (Nadesan Satyendra) 47 Opening of the Jaffna Public Library 26. Murder – Poem (M.A.Nuhman) 49 (Professor Karthigesu Sivathamby) 80 27. The Jaffna Central Library (Puthumai Penn) 51 42. Famed Jaffna library not reopening: soldiers guard complex (www.museum-security.org) 84 28. Help rebuild the Jaffna Library (Candappa) 53 43. France donates 800 books to famed Jaffna library 29. Temporary Jaffna library opened (Tamil Net) 55 (www.museum-security.org) 84 30. Burning of Jaffna Library Remembered (Tamil Net) 55 44. President urges re-opening of Jaffna Library 31. Reluctant officials threatened by SLA (Tamil Net) 56 (Daily News- Colombo) 85 32. New Jaffna Library Double size of old complex 45. Jaffna Public Library: Historical View (S.Thanabalasingam) 87 (E. Weerapperuma) 58 46. Remembering a Cultural rape (Dr. Siva Thiagarajah) 92 33. Note on History of Jaffna Public Library 47. Govt.-LTTE tussle over reopening of Jaffna library (From a letter from V.S.Thuriarajah) 60 (Kesara Abeywardena) 96 34. Who will donate the valuable ola leaves burnt to ashes? 48. Destroying a Symbol: Checkered History of Sri Lanka’s (N.Parameswaran) 63 Jaffna Public Library (Rebecca Knuth) 98 35. An Open Letter to The American Ambassador in Sri Lanka 49. Who Burnt The Jaffna Library? (Prof. Carlo Fonseka) 106 (S. Sivanayagam) 65 N.Selvarajah vii viii Rising from the Ashes Tragic Episode of the Jaffna Library 19. Another Library up in Flame (Saturday Review-Jaffna) 30 36. Library books for Sri Lanka (The Vine: Northampton Diocesan News) 69 20. Acknowledgements (C.V.K. Sivagnanam Municipal Commissioner, Jaffna) 32 37. Two decades after the burning down of the Jaffna library in Sri Lanka (Vilani Peris) 70 21. The Library is for Burning (Saturday Review-Jaffna) 35 38. Culture in Ashes: The Path to Civil War: Effort to Rebuild 22. On the Jaffna Library Arson: 1981 Poem 36 Tamil Library Becomes a Symbol of Sri Lanka’s Struggle (S.Karunanandarajah) (Celia W. Dugger) 74 23. Institutional Services of the Jaffna Public Library 39. Library reconstruction to hide cultural genocide? (Mrs. R.Nadarajah, Librarian) 39 (S. Somitharan) 77 24. From India with Love (Saturday Review-Jaffna) 45 40. Opening of the Jaffna Public Library (Tamil Net) 79 25. Burning of the Jaffna Library - A Konstradt for Thousands 41. Do we begin the Esela Perahera with the Randoli? of Tamils May 1992 - Eleventh Anniversary (Nadesan Satyendra) 47 Opening of the Jaffna Public Library 26. Murder – Poem (M.A.Nuhman) 49 (Professor Karthigesu Sivathamby) 80 27. The Jaffna Central Library (Puthumai Penn) 51 42. Famed Jaffna library not reopening: soldiers guard complex (www.museum-security.org) 84 28. Help rebuild the Jaffna Library (Candappa) 53 43. France donates 800 books to famed Jaffna library 29. Temporary Jaffna library opened (Tamil Net) 55 (www.museum-security.org) 84 30. Burning of Jaffna Library Remembered (Tamil Net) 55 44. President urges re-opening of Jaffna Library 31. Reluctant officials threatened by SLA (Tamil Net) 56 (Daily News- Colombo) 85 32. New Jaffna Library Double size of old complex 45. Jaffna Public Library: Historical View (S.Thanabalasingam) 87 (E. Weerapperuma) 58 46. Remembering a Cultural rape (Dr. Siva Thiagarajah) 92 33. Note on History of Jaffna Public Library 47. Govt.-LTTE tussle over reopening of Jaffna library (From a letter from V.S.Thuriarajah) 60 (Kesara Abeywardena) 96 34. Who will donate the valuable ola leaves burnt to ashes? 48. Destroying a Symbol: Checkered History of Sri Lanka’s (N.Parameswaran) 63 Jaffna Public Library (Rebecca Knuth) 98 35. An Open Letter to The American Ambassador in Sri Lanka 49. Who Burnt The Jaffna Library? (Prof. Carlo Fonseka) 106 (S. Sivanayagam) 65 N.Selvarajah ix 50. Ex-DIG Edward Gunawardena Challenged and questioned Over his “Version” of the Jaffna Library Burning by a former Police officer (Mr.Krishnadasan) 131 51. The Jaffna Public Library (Rajan Philips) 135 52. Burning Of The Jaffna Public Library: Whodunit? (Tassie Seneviratne) 136 53. May 31-June 4 1981: Five Days Of State Terror In Jaffna (Santasilan Kadirgamar) 138 54. Parliamentary Debate 09.06.1981: Incident in Jaffna District (Hansard -Volume 15 (1), 1981 June 9) 145 55. Absurd and ridiculous tales – The burning of the Jaffna Library 177 56. “Gota War” Intensifies: Kumara Welgama Says Gamini Lokuge is the Man who Burned Down Jaffna Library 180 57. Ranil apologizes for burning of Jaffna library 181 58. Ranil apologises for the 1981 burning of the Jaffna Library 181 59. Who Burnt One of South Asia’s Biggest Libraries? 182 N.Selvarajah ix 50. Ex-DIG Edward Gunawardena Challenged and questioned Over his “Version” of the Jaffna Library Burning by a former Police officer (Mr.Krishnadasan) 131 51. The Jaffna Public Library (Rajan Philips) 135 52. Burning Of The Jaffna Public Library: Whodunit? (Tassie Seneviratne) 136 53. May 31-June 4 1981: Five Days Of State Terror In Jaffna (Santasilan Kadirgamar) 138 54. Parliamentary Debate 09.06.1981: Incident in Jaffna District (Hansard -Volume 15 (1), 1981 June 9) 145 55. Absurd and ridiculous tales – The burning of the Jaffna Library 177 56. “Gota War” Intensifies: Kumara Welgama Says Gamini Lokuge is the Man who Burned Down Jaffna Library 180 57. Ranil apologizes for burning of Jaffna library 181 58.