Jaffna students boycott classes as Sri Lankan police interrogate student leaders

Students at the University of Jaffna staged a protest and boycotted lectures today, as Sri Lankan police interrogated student leaders over a demonstration held at the campus last month to protest against Sri Lanka’s ‘Independence Day’.

The demonstration follows a series of escalating actions by the occupying Sri Lankan police, as they interrogated staff and students over last month’s protest. 

On February 4th students had replaced the Sri Lankan lion flag with a black flag as an act of protest. It took place alongside other protests across the North-East where black flags were raised on “Independence Day” to highlight the ongoing subjugation of Eelam Tamils.

Earlier this month, officers from the Crime Prevention Division entered the university premises in a police vehicle and conducted questioning for approximately three hours with the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar, recording their statements. The move drew strong opposition from students, who criticised the presence of police within the university and the prolonged interrogation of senior officials.
The investigation has since expanded to include student leaders. 

The protests today come as Sri Lankan police conducted a five-hour interrogation of three university students in connection with the incident and recorded their statements.

The President of the Jaffna University Students’ Union and the President of the Faculty of Arts Students’ Union were initially summoned through the University Registrar by a letter dated the 13th, instructing them to appear for questioning at 9.30 am on the 16th. However, the letter was only handed over to the students on the 17th, creating confusion regarding the summons.

Following communication with police, the students subsequently appeared at the occupying Jaffna Police Headquarters at 9.30 am on Thursday, where they were questioned for approximately five hours before their statements were recorded.

Police officials have stated that, based on the statements obtained, further steps will be taken after seeking the advice of the Attorney General.

The summoning and interrogation of student leaders prompted fellow students to boycott lectures and organise a protest outside the university on Thursday.

Students criticised the parallel police investigation, pointing out that an internal inquiry had already been conducted under the direction of the University Grants Commission.

The University Grants Commission directed the university administration to conduct an inquiry into the lowering of the national flag and the hoisting of a black flag on Independence Day. A committee comprising the professor in charge of the university’s racial reconciliation unit, the Student Disciplinary Officer and the Chief Security Officer conducted the investigation and submitted its report to the University Grants Commission.

Based on its findings, 30 individuals, including two female students, were identified as being directly connected to the incident.

During the university-level inquiry, students stated that their actions were intended to express that Sri Lanka’s Independence Day is not a meaningful day for Tamils so long as the aspirations of the Tamil people are not given due recognition and respect.

Despite this, the occupying Sri Lankan police have initiated a separate investigation, questioning both university officials and students.