Jaffna don comes down hard on Oxford Union

by Ananth PALAKIDNAR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa should not have been prevented from addressing the Oxford Union. A university means, an institution of ideas. Therefore, the President should have been allowed to speak instead of preventing him from addressing the Oxford Union Forum according to Dr. Ratnajeevan Hoole, one of the contenders for the post of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna.

Dr. Ratnajeevan Hoole was elected as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna in 2006. However, he had to withdraw from the post due to the threats to his life and his family members by the LTTE.

Dr. Hoole commenting on the Oxford issue in London last week told the Sunday Observer that the Universities are places of learning and independent thinking.

Therefore, President Rajapaksa in his capacity as a Head of State should not have been prevented from addressing the Oxford Union. “He should have been allowed to address the Forum and the audience could have come out with questions.

Dr. Ratnajeevan Hoole said that two of his brothers, Dr. Rajan Hoole and Dr. Paul Hoole were products of the University of Oxford.

Dr. Ratnajeevan Hoole is in the fray for the post of Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna after four years.

Commenting on Jaffna after the LTTE, was defeated Dr. Hoole said, that he could see the difference.

“Following threats to my family and self from the LTTE, I lived in the United States for the past four years. I have been living in Jaffna for the past three months.

“The North under the grip of the LTTE was terrible. Everyone was living under pressure and intimidation.

“The terrorist outfit did not allow people in the North to think or act freely.

“However, with the fall of the outfit, there is a vast change in the day-to-day life of the people in the North.

“Essential food and services are flowing freely into the peninsula.

“The political parties are functioning freely. Hence, I see the light at the end of the tunnel like others in Jaffna,” Dr. Hoole said.