JAFFNA PUBLIC LIBRARY

From a private collection dating from 1933, the foundation stone of the Public Library, still visible on the façade, was laid on 29 March 1954. Construction was interrupted for several years before being completed in 1959. Built in Mughal style, it contained before the war nearly 97,000 books, making it one of the largest in Asia. Destroyed by an arson attack in May 1981, it was reopened in 2003 and now has more than 30,000 books, 6 sections, and has become one of the city's pride and joy. It should be noted that many other works have been scattered as a precautionary measure in several annex buildings in the city. On the^first floor, the computer section has 10 Internet-connected stations accessible to students and the public.

The library fire. On May 31, 1981, the Public Library was set on fire by a mob and Sinhalese police officers seeking revenge for two of their own killed in a demonstration. This was one of the first incidents that would lead the country into a terrible civil war. All the books were lost, including the Yarlpana Vaipava Malai, a priceless book on the history of Jaffna. It is said that on the same day, Father Thavidhu, an ardent and prominent advocate of literature, died of a heart attack when he heard of the disaster. It was not until 2003, the year after the^first ceasefire in the bloody region, that the library reopened.