Jaffna District MP K. Ilankumaran has urged the government to launch an investigation into the burning of the Jaffna Public Library, similar to the ongoing inquiry into the Pattalanda Torture Camp.
Speaking in Parliament today during the committee-stage debate on budget allocations for the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization, and National Policies, the MP emphasized the need for justice regarding historical atrocities.
“Jaffna Library Burning Was a Turning Point in the War”
MP Ilankumaran highlighted that the burning of the Jaffna Public Library was one of the key incidents that fueled the 30-year-long civil war in Sri Lanka.
“The Northern Province has always excelled in education. I appreciate the allocation of Rs. 100 million by the President for the Jaffna Library in this budget. However, we must not forget history. The destruction of this library was not just the burning of books but an attack on Tamil heritage and identity,” he stated.
He further added that the same individuals responsible for the war that claimed countless Tamil and Sinhalese lives were in power when the Jaffna Library was set ablaze.
“Back then, those who held the position of Minister of Education oversaw the burning of this library and the erasure of Tamil culture. Today, we are investigating the Pattalanda Torture Camp atrocities. Why is there no similar effort to bring justice for the Jaffna Library attack?”
Calls for a Truth-Seeking Commission
MP Ilankumaran stressed that both Tamil and Sinhalese youth suffered due to the war, and the truth must be uncovered for the sake of justice and reconciliation.
“Many young lives were lost. These were the children of ordinary Tamil and Sinhalese parents. We cannot ignore the past. There is information that Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was the Education Minister at the time, was also present in Jaffna when the library was burned. This must be investigated,” he insisted.
The MP concluded by demanding that a special commission be set up to investigate the Jaffna Library burning, ensuring justice for both Tamil and Sinhalese communities.
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