Jaffna students want to live in peace with those in South
by Ananth Palakidnar
The students of the present day Jaffna do not want the war to
continue and they want to live in peace with more interaction with the
South, according to W.I.Jackson of St.Patrick College Jaffna who was in
Colombo captaining a team of fifteen cricketers from the North and the
East.
The fourteen member North and East cricket team, comprised eight
players from the leading schools in Jaffna such as St Johns, Central,
St.Patrick's, Jaffna College Union, Tellipalai, Manipay Hindu and
Mahajana. The team also consisted of players from St. Michael's,
Batticaloa and the schools in Vavuniya and Trincomalee.
The combined North and East schools cricket team played a friendly
cricket match with the Colombo schools combined team last week.The North
and East cricketers also visited the ANCL and to see how the company
functions.
The Captain of the team Jackson told the Sunday Observer that it was
for the first time since the A-9 high way was closed a cricket team
comprising North and East cricketers have come to Colombo.
"Unlike in the past, the present day students in the Jaffna Peninsula
are very particular that they should not get trapped in the militant
activities.The devastating effects of war and the pathetic situation
faced by the people of Jaffna due to the disturbing conditions of
ongoing conflict has made the students of Jaffna to realise the
importance of living in peace.
They want to study well and engage in sports. They believe that by
concentrating on studies as well as in sports they could work out a good
future for them. Therefore the Government should provide all necessary
backing for the North and the East to excel in their studies as well as
in their sports activities without isolating them.
He also said that when the North-South relations were in good shape
the Jaffna students had ample opportunities both in Government and
private sectors. But now the situation has changed. Hardly any Jaffna
student interest with the South.
The current conflict have distanced them to a greater extent with
those in other parts of the country. This situation should change with
peace returning to the peninsula and the Jaffna students having more
interaction with the Southerners.
The tour of the North and East cricketers to Colombo was organised by
the Peace Secretariat. |