Jaffna Municipal Council Rejects Central Dominance in Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre Administration

Former Mayor of Jaffna, Yogeswari Parkunarajah, has stressed that the full administrative authority of the Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre should remain under the control of the Jaffna Municipal Council.

She made these remarks during the monthly session of the Jaffna Municipal Council held on Thursday (14 May 2026) under the chairmanship of Mayor Mathivathani.

During the session, several matters were discussed, while Yogeswari Parkunarajah presented a special proposal expressing dissatisfaction over the Trust Fund that is set to be established by the Central Government for the administration of the Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre in Jaffna.

Addressing the council, she stated that the Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre, which was constructed with financial assistance from the Government of India on land owned by the Jaffna Municipal Council, is now being brought under a new administrative structure.

She emphasized that the Municipal Council has the full right to administer properties belonging to it, and alleged that attempts by the Central Government’s Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Ministry of Buddhasasana to dominate the administration contradict the principles of devolution and local government autonomy.

She further noted that although the Central Government’s intervention had come under the guise of “joint administration” due to the Municipal Council’s lack of sufficient funds to maintain the centre, there was a risk of decision-making powers shifting to Colombo because representatives affiliated with the Central Government would outnumber local representatives on the governing body.

Parkunarajah also put forward several recommendations, including granting greater representation to the Municipal Council in the management committee as the rightful owner of the land, introducing legal provisions to eventually hand over the full administration of the centre to the Municipal Council once it becomes financially self-sustaining, and ensuring that revenue generated through the centre is used solely for the cultural development of local communities.

She stressed that while the property belongs to the people of the municipality, its authority should not be alienated, adding that both the assets and powers related to the institution must remain under local government administration.

The proposal received unanimous support from council members and was passed unanimously during the session.

Members also reportedly pledged to support any necessary measures aimed at safeguarding the Municipal Council’s rights over the cultural centre.