For Raghavan's sake, Jaffna University to throw away hundreds of invitations

The Jaffna University administration is facing a dilemma on what to do with hundreds of printed invitations for the opening of a laboratory after a local politico demanded that his name also should be included in the guest list.

The laboratory has been built under a Yen 1.667 billion grant by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the setting up of a research and training complex at the Faculty of Agriculture. The opening ceremony is scheduled to be held on October 31 with the participation of government officials, after the Japan donor agency raised concerns of delays in opening the complex.

Fo rmer Nor t h e r n Province Governor and Sri Lanka Freedom Party ( SLFP) National List Parliamentarian Suren Raghavan came to know about the opening through the media and contacted the University Grants Commission ( UGC), to stress that he too should be in the list since he represents the re gion. Thereafter, the UGC instructed the university administration to include him in the list of guests.

Earlier, following a recommendation by former President Maithripala Sirisena, Mr Raghavan was appointed a member of the council of the University of Jaffna. However, since he failed to take part in three council meetings consecutively, his appointment became vacant according to UGC regulations.

The university staff is planning to throw away those invitations into the dustbin and print new ones for the sake of including the name of a politician.