Jaffna University

Establishment of the the University of Jaffna

1. With the implementation of the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978, and by Gazette notification dated December 22, 1978, the Jaffna Campus became an independent and autonomous University with the name University of Jaffna with effect from January 01, 1979.
2. Following the ethnic disturbances in 1983, the Siddha section of the Institute of Indigenous Medicine, affiliated to the University of Colombo was transferred to the University of Jaffna on 02 July 1984 and placed as a department under the Faculty of Arts. Since 01 October 1993, the Department of Siddha Medicine has been functioning as a separate unit under the direct administration of the Vice-Chancellor. From September 2003, a management committee appointed by the University council oversee the administration of the Department of Siddha Medicine.
3. A Computer Unit was established in 1985 as a Service Unit under the overall supervision of the Dean of the Faculty of Science.
4. Construction of the Main Library building and the Student Centre commenced in early eighties. However the construction works were completely halted as a result of military activities and the economic embargo imposed by the government on 01 January 1987. Only a portion of the ground floor of the Library Block was completed and put into use in 1986.
5. The activities of both the General Administration and Academic Departments in the University were totally disrupted by the military operations of the Indian Peace Keeping Forces during October-November 1987. The University buildings suffered extensive damage due to these operations. Military operations caused considerable damage and loss to laboratory equipment, office equipment, furniture etc. During these military operations, a few academic and non-academic staff and students lost their life.
6. For about a decade after 1987, the political and military situation that prevailed in Jaffna were not conducive for academic development work and the university had to be contented with sustaining its ongoing programmes. During this period frequent declaration of curfew and military operations including aerial bombings in addition to economic blockade of many essential goods disturbed the academic activities of the university, especially in the science disciplines. These problems also caused many Probationary Assistant Lecturers not to return to Jaffna after their postgraduate studies abroad causing additional burden on the few staff who decided to stay back.
7. The University, managed to withstand the above mentioned constraints and continued its academic activities making some progress on the development side.
8. The Faculty of Agriculture was established on 03 December 1990 at Kilinochchi, a fast developing city in the mainland about 60 km south of Jaffna. The Faculty commenced its activities in some of the buildings obtained from the Regional Agriculture Research and Development Centre (RARDC), Kilinochchi and the In-Service Training Centre, Kilinochchi. A portion of the buildings of the National Youth Service Centre was also taken over by the Faculty to provide hostel facilities to the students.
9. The University Grants Commission approved the establishment of a Faculty of Engineering in the University of Jaffna at Kilinochchi in October 1989. A Professor of Civil Engineering was appointed for preparing plans for the commencement of building works and designing the curriculum for a degree programme. However, in view of military conflicts and the unsettled conditions that prevailed in North-East Sri Lanka, after 1990, the University Grants Commission was of the view that development programmes in the University could be given priority after peace was restored in the region.
10. The Nothern Province Affiliated University College (NPAUC) was established in 1991 at Vavuniya to offer Diploma Courses in Mathematical Sciences and Accountancy and Finance. The NPAUC was upgraded as the Vavuniya Campus of the University of Jaffna by Gazette notification dated 26 march 1997. Two Faculties, the Faculty of Applied Science and Faculty of Business Studies each with two departments of studies was created.
11. After the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the University has taken up this matter with the UGC again and has submitted a proposal to establish a full-fledged Faculty of Engineering at Kinlinochchi adjoining the Faculty of Agriculture.
12. The External Examination Unit was established in 1990 to conduct external examinations.
13. The Department of Compute Science was established with high effort of Professor K Kunaratnam, Professor of Physics, with the kind support of the then Head of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Mr P Makinan. The first batch of students were admitted for the course of Computer Science in the 1990/1991 academic year. Professor K Kunaratnam was the pioneer Head of the Department.
14. A Workers Education Programs was inaugurated on 01 May 1991.
15. An Extra Mural Studies Unit was established in October 1992, to conduct short term courses for the benefit of the people who have no opportunity for University education.
16. The year 1995 witnessed a mass exodus of population from Jaffna Town and the Valigamam region to Vadamaradchi and Thenmaradchi regions of the peninsula and the mainland. As a result of the exodus the University environs became depopulated and inaccessible. The administration of the University was temporarily shifted to the Agriculture Faculty at Kilinochchi. A sub-office of the administration was established at Chavakachcheri Hindu College. The exodus proved to be a disaster to the university. It lost laboratory and office equipment and furniture worth over one hundred million rupees.
17. The University recommenced its activities in Jaffna in July 1996 at the Thirunevely premises. The University is slowly recovering from the traumas of the war after the signing of the MOU.

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