Jaffna cultural center

 Culture of Jaffna is Hindu culture.

Culture of Jaffna is the epicenter for cultural evolution in Sri Lanka.

Culture of Jaffna is an extension of the cultural formulations of southern Asia.

Promoting and propagating the culture of Jaffna is in turn promoting and propagating the culture of the entire southern Asia.

A center to promote and propagate the culture of Jaffna is a boon to the people of Sri Lanka.

Governments in Delhi have historically contributed to the preservation, promotion and propagation of the culture of Jaffna.

Seven hundred years ago, Jaffna provided refuge, preservation and propagation of Indian cultural talents.  When Allaudin Gilgi sent his eunuch commander Malik Gafoor to south India to plunder the wealth and Islamize the culture and people, it was the Jaffna King Kulasekara Singhai Aryan and his successor Kulothunga Singhai Aryan (1284 CE to 1321 CE) who gave refuge to artists, scholars, medicos, astronomers, astrologers and a host of other experts in the other fields of culture and tradition of southern India.

These artists, scholars, medicos, astronomers, astrologers and a host of other experts who were mainly dependent on the royal houses and aristocratic families for grants, salaries and emoluments suddenly found themselves abandoned. Malik Gafoor and his plundering goons of the then Islamic State have emptied the treasure houses in the Hindu south.

Crossing the shallow sea dividing the mainland and island was the only alternative for these artists, scholars, medicos, astronomers, astrologers and a host of other experts. Not only their lives which were the embodiment of the cultural heritage but also the palm leaf manuscripts, musical instruments, pharmaceutical aids and other supporting peripherals had to be saved. There was a benevolent Hindu King in Jaffna Kulasekara Singhai Aryan.

Kulasekhara Singhai Aryan had provided safe naval passage for those seeking refuge from the mainland. He provided them accommodation, lands and monetary grants in and around Jaffna. Senguntha Street in Nallur is one of the remnants today of the provision by the benevolent King.

Today we have a Government in Delhi attempting to empower the cultural heritage of Jaffna with a Cultural center. This support has come at a time when the cultural connection with the immediate past of Jaffna has been under stress due to a prolonged violent conflict. The cultural center abuts the Jaffna Public Library which was burnt, not by the upholders of Jaffna culture.

Indian Mauryan Emperor Asoka sent medicines to Jaffna 2270 years ago (Edict XII). Cauvery delta benevolent aristocrat Sadayappar of Kamaban fame, sent 1000 boat loads of food to famine affected Jaffna 900 years ago (Chola Mandala Sathakam). There were several such aids and contributions to the welfare of Jaffna from India through many centuries.

History repeats itself now. The Government of India has built a 12 storied cultural complex in Jaffna following the footsteps of Emperor Asoka and Sadayappar.

Jaffna shall remain grateful to the Government of India. This gratitude would be manifest in the successful maintenance and operation of the complex. Operationally, creators, artists and performers from Jaffna are duty bound to generate quality inputs to satisfy the culture-yearning populace of Jaffna. Their performances shall permeate to the lowest strata of the society to soothe their minds, soften their attitudes and create a mood of positivity towards enhancement of a cultured life and living.

Jaffna now has its cultural nerve center for post-war cultural renaissance. Construction of the cultural complex lays the foundation for a future beaming of interaction between the Government of India and the culturally thirsty Jaffna population.