State-of-the-art Jaffna Cultural Centre ready: Controversy sorted out

The Rs 1.2 billion Indian-funded Jaffna Cultural Centre, a gift from the Indian people, is expected to be declared open soon, as construction work has been completed.

Cut a fresh controversy has erupted as to who is going to maintain this massive twelve- storey state-ofthe-art building in the heart of Jaffna. As per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries, the completed complex should be handed over to the Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC).

However, this took a different turn when Minister Arumugam Thondaman who was accompanying Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to New Delhi last week requested the Indian side that this complex should come under the purview of the Central government in Colombo, given the massive cadre and financial assistance needed by the JMC to maintain it.

The Indian officials who were sceptical of how this would be viewed by Jaffna residents ruled out the request saying that it should be vested with the JMC and the Central government can only assist the council to run it.

“The Government of India will hand over the completed project to the government of Sri Lanka (GOSL). The GOSL shall hand over the building to the Municipal Council of Jaffna. The GOSL shall assess and provide financial and human resources required for running the Cultural Centre. The recurring expenditure on the maintenance and running of the Centre shall be the responsibility of the Municipal Council of Jaffna,” a clause in the MoU signed between the two countries said.

According to the MoU, the purpose of the Jaffna Cultural Centre is to provide suitable social infrastructure for the people of the Northern Province, especially for the people of Jaffna, to help them to reconnect with their cultural roots and the rest of the country and to rejuvenate and nurture the ancient cultural heritage of Jaffna.

The complex would consist of a cultural museum, auditorium, learning facilities and public areas for common use. The JMC is planning to rent out office spaces for government offices to increase its revenue to meet maintenance costs.

Criticising such attempts by the Central government to take over the building as violation of the country’s Constitution, Jaffna Mayor E. Arnold said the council would never allow such a takeover be it the Provincial Council or Central government.

“The Central government has to support us to recruit new cadre and other necessary facilities to run this Centre by ourselves. We’ve had a discussion with the Governor on this and she had assured us her support in this regard,” Mayor Arnold said.