John, the Sole Representative of Jaffna University – Where were you when I needed your support?
To Mr John Ratnadurai
Dear John,
(February 08, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) I refer to your article in yesterday’s Guardian. It looks as if both of us are concerned with the real challenges faced by the Administrative community in Northern Sri Lanka. I was working on Public Administration in Northern Sri Lanka around the same time you were working on your answers to the challenges faced by the University Community in Northern Sri Lanka. This is also a challenge for every University Graduate who consciously supported or opposed the Tamil Tigers. The combination of the two (University qualification and the Rebellion for Freedom) is the University of Jaffna. To me, we need to therefore focus on the big picture and not individual personalities – except where we are able to ‘show’ that they acted in breach of their responsibilities as accepted by them.
As stated in my letter to the Government Agent of Jaffna (Click here to read ) , we, as part of the Global Tamil Community, donated land towards war Rehabilitation even when the war was active. Through that ‘gift’ we placed also ourselves in the people of that area. They say that there is God in everyone of us. Each time we help the needy – the real needy, we place ourselves in them. One who has the solution would do this by bringing that needy inside her/himself. If we do not have the solution, or if we are not received inside the recipient, we need to structure a system of costs and benefits – so costs and benefits would be Equal to show the whole picture at that level. The rest of us has been rejected by the needy – which means they no longer have a need.
When we release only enough opportunities / benefits to equal problems/costs, the service provider and the service receiver are ‘seen’ as equals. Through our donation, and the way it is idling, we learnt that we as Internationals are not the form of god inside the locals. Hence my recommendation to structure Business / Jobs to match the level of cost contribution by locals.
Their real need was to move away from their Caste conscious assessments – especially within themselves. In their Toddy Tapper community – Vannan (Dhoby / Washerman) is of lesser status than Nalavar (Toddy Tappers). Yet, they failed to punish themselves at least to the extent they took revenge against Vellalar (farmers) – which is reported to have happened as recently as 1995, in Vattukkottai. As per my observation, LTTE was able to suppress such discrimination when it kept such cadres in combat which suited those who were not able to heal themselves from within, including through faith in God/Natural Justice. To the extent they were idle, these differences surfaced to cause internal divisions within the LTTE. If the LTTE leadership had managed to keep on fighting, the cadre would have been too busy to surface ‘habitual reasons’ – which are the individual’s parallel of majority domination through race at national level. Here in Australia, white folks from within the University community also said when I complained of racial discrimination – that they also had experienced pain and loss and hence mine was not racial. If they had felt the pain and loss at the depth I felt – they would have found the solution at least within themselves.
Belief of an individual is most sacred and anyone who respects the sovereignty of a nation and therefore an individual, would accept expressions of belief in the environment in which the belief was born, until proven otherwise through systems Equally available to the believer and the challenger. Here in Australia, I was labeled a mentally ill criminal for expressing my belief through Due University Process. Truth ‘happened’ and the University paid a much higher price at the Public level – which price is the compensation that was due to me.
In summary – belief when expressed in the environment in which it is born, needs to be taken as True. It would always be right if surfaced in the environment in which it is born. When brought outside the environment, it needs to be structured firmly under the leadership of the highest common investor – which often is not the believer. To the extent LTTE expressed within its Belief Environment – it was right. But when it chose to bring it ‘out’ despite not being the highest common investor in the new environment – it came into a foreign environment and defeated itself.
As per my experience, racial discrimination happens most of the time, due to habit rather than conscious calculated moves. Likewise, revenge attacks from minorities when they think they are in power. If we lack the will to consciously override habit – we would continue to use habitual tools of discrimination which have become part of us. Habit cannot be removed by doing nothing. Acting out of habit is equivalent to doing nothing. Habit could be balanced by opposition over a period equal to the period over which habit was practiced – as happened to a degree through the LTTE. Affirmative actions would shorten this period. Truth cures immediately. Hence the need for sacrifice – as I did here in Australia. By curing myself, I cured Common Australians through Faith. Had Mr. Howard, our former Prime Minister, heard me directly in court, he would have contributed to preventing fears through Bali Bombings. Public records show that I warned Mr. Howard of bloodshed – in 1999. I did because like Sri Lanka, Australia is also my country. Faith is powerful and it works through even a minority of One. The moment we share our faith with others we get protected from any attacks at the physical level. Hence we need to know the Truth through ourselves.
When we ‘show’ this Truth – we need to give it physical structure. Nature’s laws tell us that there is an equal side to the side we ‘see’, provided we are standing on a straight line. Hence the need for ‘level playing field’. What we observe from both sides with still / independent minds is the Truth at that time and place. These are called facts. Facts not viewed through a still / independent mind – deviate us from knowing the Truth.
Hence we need to structure a Business path through Costs and Benefits that are seen as Equal. Like the Public Administrative system, the University system also needs this. I had to ‘renounce’ my earned benefits at the University of New South Wales, which is our Australian parallel of the University of Jaffna.
You say ‘And there lies the problem with our state universities – the appointment of persons out of patronage and political loyalty (and boxes of mango) rather than talent. Perhaps that is why private universities do better; not because state universities are intrinsically bad. For example the University of California at Berkeley, a state institution, is said by many to have the best postgraduate programmes anywhere’
To my mind,, you are comparing Mangoes with not Apples but sweet comfort of slavery to intellectual (ego) pleasures. A State university has the responsibility to uphold the majority values of the Public. A Private University on the other hand has the responsibility to produce Business outcomes that show global values. When two are mixed indiscriminately, the matter jumps from frying pan into the fire.
All educational institutions are primarily for the purpose of developing common faith with the society that maintains them. Most ‘local’ universities have a high component of faith based hierarchy, whilst most urban universities are bridges that connect us to the outside world. When there was controversy over the appointment of Vice Chancellor in 2006, I wrote as to why Dr. Hoole would not suit the position. (Appendix 2). I am yet to know of any improvement in this situation.
Taken on the basis of work for grades – the work of students is rewarded through ‘grades’. The benefits (cash and status) that the students are expected to receive through these certificates need to be Equal to the benefits that are paid to the employers – primarily staff of the University. Those who do ‘local’ subjects such as Tamil and Hindu culture in this instance, are likely to feel a deeper degree of faith with the local community. That is the value of their ownership – for which they also would have had to forego grades with other cultures – especially in Western society. Where the work and faith component of such students is greater than the work and faith component of others who are able to use their certificates in multicultural societies – for example like Dr. Hoole – may be experiencing difficulty accepting the leadership of the likes of Professor Shanmugalingam, unless they feel connected to people like us – from outside their local areas.
During the seminar conducted at the University of Jaffna , in January 2010, to make the connection with the Tamil Diaspora, the University Management demonstrated lack of vision for the future of the latter group. Like the local village leaders seeking funds for their houses and toilets – these academics sought cash for vehicles and buildings. Despite repeated efforts by me to share my wisdom with them in Democratic management of resources, they failed to identify with their need. Like Aborigines, they seem to have resigned themselves to fate. But that University is more than a local university to all those who fought against the quota system of University entrance – towards merit based system.
The University of Jaffna is the best Memorial of the Intellectual credits that we Tamils surrendered to be ‘free’ of what the Tamil Community considered to be Unjust Discrimination by majority race – especially through the quota system in entering Universities. It is therefore understandable that we would become less competitive at the global level if we remove that ‘war-memorial’ value. A primary motivator that influenced me to write to the GA Jaffna was also University students of lower caste. One such student said during my most recent stay – that someone of a higher caste who asked her for help to get ‘grades’ had also asked whether she was not afraid to live in that village?’ Our University student was upset by this and I took immediate measures to share my status with her and ‘show’ this lady my own caste status and that I was living as one of the villagers. The higher caste lady relaxed a bit more after that. To me, it is not different to the fears expressed by Diaspora Tamils about going to Sri Lanka. Both are right as per their belief – so long as they remain in their ‘local’ environments.
As for Business values in State funded Universities, the Universities that run courses for rich students – especially from overseas – have to drop their standards if they want to make a profit out of their work. The better alternative is to devolve power to such units and be seen as being their Equal. This happened to me through the University of Technology, Sydney – Insearch – through my channel partnership. Given that they both – the loss of status that I thought I had at the University of NSW and the gain of independent partnership at the University of Technology - ‘happened’ within their same State in Australia – I concluded that taken as a whole, the University system is truly self sufficient in our State and therefore in Australia.
If you are likewise able to combine your example – the University of California with the University of Jaffna – you would also surface valuable Truths or at least be able identify with my pictures.
To me, it is no coincidence that you picked University of California from which the Vice Chancellor of the University of New South Wales, Professor Rory Hume came. It was during his time that I was sent to prison for seeking to meet with him towards sharing my Truth – which was recognized by the Chancellor as well as the Dean of Medicine – the two positions – in between which the position of Vice Chancellor is sandwiched.
As per Wikipedia – the official site – “Wyatt R. "Rory" Hume DDS, PhD (born 4 January 1945) is an Australian-born academic. He served as UCLA Executive Vice-Chancellor between 1998 and 2002, and as The University of New South Wales' sixth Vice-Chancellor and President from 2002 to 2004.[1] Hume later served as Provost and Executive Vice President - Academic and Health Affairs at the University of California. Hume is currently the Provost at United Arab Emirates University.”
As per my brief but direct interaction with Professor Shamugalingam, he is ready to go back to his position as an academic, if he fails in his bid to keep his job as Vice Chancellor. As with Farmer caste and Toddy Tappers – we also have status differences between Academics and Administrators. Professor Hume is a highly certified Academic. During the time Australian government was strongly focused on developing the Higher Education sector, it facilitated smart foreigners to pursue their higher studies here in Australia – free of any fee. My husband is one such engineer from Sri Lanka. Likewise it paid high salaries to academics the same way farmers were promoted in Northern Sri Lanka – so much so that some of our relations retired from their ‘Public Service’ jobs to become full time farmers. But, like the Toddy Tappers who became good businessmen due to high consumption of toddy by the Farmer caste – even to the extent of the latter going into the homes of toddy tappers just for consumption of toddy (as on project basis) – Administrators became good cashiers through lucrative budget allocations – so much so that Vice Chancellor Academics would go into the home offices of mediocre accountants who in reality were only book-keepers and cashiers. The Vice Chancellors of the University of NSW were no exception to this practice. That was a legacy left behind by Professor Hume’s predecessor, who unlike Professor Hume – ‘stayed at home’ in Australia and hence was protected to a greater degree by his repayment to Australian society.
The Truth that surfaced due to my pain and loss, have continued – by Professor Hume subsequently taking up lower positions – just like Professor Shanmugalingam is preparing to.
Professor Shanmugalingam’s direct opposition – Dr. Hoole has likewise, accepted a position to structure an Engineering Faculty within University of Jaffna. But as per reports – Dr. Hoole failed to pay due respect to Professor Shanmugalingam when the latter questioned him about his claim for remuneration. By disrespecting Professor Shanmugalingam, Dr. Hoole was disrespecting that position Professor occupied – the position of Vice Chancellor – to the extent of genuine work and ego sacrifices by Professor Shanmugalingam to win that position. To the extent, University of Jaffna is a ‘local’ University – it needs hierarchical systems and the faith that go with such systems. Dr. Hoole disqualified himself in this regard.
By failing to structure a ‘Business approach’ to courses driven by grades – including engineering degree, Professor Shanmugalingam has already retired from that part of the University, that would cater to the younger generation. There was no response from the Vice Chancellor, to my proposal in Appendix 1 – a proposal prepared at the request of the Vice Chancellor.
Professor Shanmugalingam is the parallel of Professor Niland – who was Vice Chancellor from whom the position was transferred to Professor Hume of your University of California. Like you have done, there were many remarks against Professor Niland’s pursuit of pleasures also. Unless they were seen and/or known to have interfered with his work, or were in breach of rules, they need to be left out. It is for the individual to seek within and find his own solutions. Unless majority students of University of California are respected for sex within marriage only – you do not have the jurisdiction to take that approach. If indeed there was some Truth – it may indicate a need for legalizing de facto relationships which would then help the younger generation regulate their pleasures rather than rebel and separate in the name of freedom from their parents.
A good system would uphold the true values of all participants. To me, neither Professor Hoole nor Professor Shanmugalingam has earned the position needed by the Tamil Community as a whole. If we truly seek through our real needs – we will find that which is already available.
In the meantime, how about using your own investments with the custodians of power to arrange for this to be discussed through a seminar at our Development Secretariat in Thunaivi-Sangarathai-Vattukottai. Just make sure that you pay at least a nominal amount for the use of the facilities to show Equal status with our community there. If you are able to influence the Ministry or the staff concerned to allocate a small portion of the millions you claim were allocated for the purpose of “Improving the Relevance and Quality of Undergraduate Education” (please note the key word – Relevance), to represent the Government’s assessment of this achievement – I would conclude that you do have the basic requirements to be the Vice Chancellor of that University and therefore qualify to ‘tell’ all those who have failed to keep that job.
I was seeking to do that during my stay there last month – but Professor Shanmugalingam was too upset to even pay attention to me. Hence I went to Parameswara temple within the University campus and prayed for him and more importantly the University Community. A lady Administrator approached me whilst I was eating the Prasaatham (holy food) on the steps of the temple. I concluded that someone heard my prayer and was thanking me. Genuine work is never wasted. It is important to stay within our earned limits – so we do not become victims of stress. I helped Professor Shanmugalingam by doing what he should have done, said he had done – but failed to do. I surrendered the issue to Lord Parameswara – the Lord who destroys speed/haste. Faith based institutions need to be left to Natural Forces. When we step back and observe – we would see the beauty of Truth. A good soul in Muslim form - – Poet Asmin from Pothuvil - sent me this message in regards to my work yesterday “True writing lives on forever. Even the enemy’s war-sword would break in its presence”.
To me, even the mighty American Goliath - Academic Professor Hume broke (was dismissed by the Governing Council), in the presence (peaceful assembly by me) of this small Sri Lankan David. That is the power of Truth. In true status I had grown taller than Professor Hume and he would have seen it – if he had stayed within his area of Belief.
Thank you for sharing your mind also with us.
Yours sincerely,
Gaja Lakshmi Paramasivam
Background
After the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka, Tamil Diaspora is seeking to participate in developing new opportunities to feel connected to their roots in Sri Lanka and also facilitate Sri Lankans to connect to global partners.
A Conference on ‘Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Development of the Tamil Areas and the Role of the Diaspora’ was held at the University of Jaffna, on 12 January 2010. Follow up meetings were held and this proposal is being submitted in the consciousness of the sharing of knowledge and wisdom between Tamils academics and professionals.
The Diaspora has the funds and is able to access International Human Resources. University of Jaffna has the infrastructure and support facilities to implement the projects.
One of the areas open to international funding is in ‘Allied Health Studies’. Norwegian and Australian participants have indicated their willingness to resource new development.
This proposal submits the need for courses such as Prosthetics & Orthotics as well as Psychosocial Welfare, and outlines the broader resource structure required for the courses.
Needs Statement
The civil war in Sri Lanka has resulted in deep damage to physical, mental and social welfare of its people – especially to those in Northeastern Sri Lanka. Millions have been adversely affected by the war and recovery is estimated to take a few decades.
Whilst efforts are being made continuously by local authorities and international agencies, it is believed that there exists a need to take a structured approach towards sustainable services especially through education.
Jaffna is well known for its deep commitment to Higher Education and hence the University of Jaffna seems the most appropriate medium through which investment in sustainable services and new initiatives in Research and Education are undertaken, to benefit the victims of war and also to develop global networks. The victims of war have the experience of disability and therefore the need for Additional Health Services. Diaspora Tamils feel the need to share in the pain and losses of their community by sharing their greater wealth and confidence at global level. Diaspora Tamils propose to access international resources to make it a global project.
Objectives
The primary aim of the project is to heal victims of war and bring out some positive value from the pain and loss – through ongoing sharing of knowledge and wisdom.
In addition, this partnership between local residents in Sri Lanka and the International community is expected to lead to global standards of democracy and self sufficiency,’
It is anticipated that the courses would eventually be self-sufficient and would lead the University system in Sri Lanka towards self-sufficiency. In other words, the cash benefits from the course would be greater than the cash costs.
Plan of Operation
It is planned to launch two Courses – (1) Prosthetics & Orthotics (2) Psychosocial Studies.
The two courses would be developed by academics to be recruited and managed by University of Jaffna, Australian Tamil Management Service and its partner Xxxxxx. Once developed and approved by the University authorities, management would be democratic towards self sufficiency.
The terms of the courses would be 4 years each – with about 50 students recruited each year and academic staff of 20 per course. At operational stage University of Jaffna would take over full management of the courses. In summary, the project would be on Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. Close collaboration with Industry and Community would be included to ensure ongoing communication with the University and the People it serves.
Infrastructure Facilities to be established
Land and Buildings to accommodate students; as well as for research and workshops.
Vehicles for travel and transport
Laboratory Equipment
Timetable
March 2010 Establish Project; Appoint Project Managers
May 2010 Recruit staff to develop courses; Procure Land and commence building
June 2010 Develop course framework and establish subject committees
November 2010 Gain accreditation
January 2011 Commence student enrolments
Evaluation of the Project
The project will be evaluated periodically and the evaluation is expected to be formative and summative. Formative evaluation will provide feedback on development of facilities and courses as well as course delivery – in relation to process and content.
Summative evaluation would be through Objective Performance Indicators which would be developed as part of the Course Development exercise.
Budget
A Capital Budget of Rs. 41 million and an Operating Budget of about Rs.100 million over 5 years is estimated. (Details attached).
Gaja Lakshmi Paramasivam
26 February 2010
http://www.yarl.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=10090
GAJA LAKSHMI PARAMASIVAM
AUSTRALIAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
906/ 56, Carr Street; Coogee N.S.W. 2034; Australia ;
Email gajalakshmi_param@bigpond.com ; Phone 61 2 9315--
His Excellency Mahinda Rajapakse
President of Sri Lanka
President's House
Colombo 1
Sri Lanka
18 March 2006
Your Excellency,
LEADERSHIP OF JAFFNA UNIVERSITY
I refer to the ongoing controversy over the appointment of Professor Rajan Hoole as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna. I believe that this is a sensitive issue and would like to share my wisdom with you and as urged by fellow Tamils who value my Service work, I offer also my Consulting Services on a nominal charge to develop the most appropriate leadership and help stabilize and strengthen the University of Jaffna.
University of Jaffna will continue to be a politically driven institution for sometime to come. If the investments by the intellectually driven Tamil citizens are to be protected, one needs leadership that is not only intellectually driven but is also politically sensitive and most importantly has courage to uphold the value of the work done by students and staff and the sacrifices made by the Public towards Higher Education. I believe that the most important resource we have towards this is the Human mind.
The Mind helps us resolve problems at the higher level ‘internally’ and hence we do not need to go through a physical war each time there is a change at the physical level. Since none of the candidates who applied for the position of Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna seems to have this higher level capability, the person needs the partnership of someone like myself at least initially, to help develop a position the requirements of which ‘anticipates’ the likely problems and prepares ahead towards diffusing the problem before it manifests itself at the physical level. It is obvious that none of the chosen candidates has done this. The thinking of the person who cares about ALL aspects of the University community, would automatically benefit the whole University.
The mind is like the path we travel. When we enjoy the path itself – the destination does not matter.
Professor Hoole, who has been chosen by you out of a list of three recommended by the University Authorities / Grants Commission, was nowhere to be seen in the Redevelopment of Jaffna itself. Professor Hoole may be a good candidate for a merit based Sri Lankan University, such as the University of Colombo but right now, with the political situation in Jaffna, Professor Hoole himself is likely to realize that it is not the right time for him to lead the intellectual students of University of Jaffna. It’s a question of demand and supply for the services of a Vice Chancellor for this particular University, at this particular point in time. When demand is high, assessment is on the basis of profitability and when supply is high, assessment is on the basis of productivity. For the physically driven i.e. for those who are traveling towards a fixed destination, the price/income is variable in the former whilst it is fixed in the latter. In terms of this position, profitability is measured by academic achievement whilst productivity is measured through success in General Management. Given that the Income/Benefit of the University of Jaffna is more or less fixed, one must have free flow of Costs to be able to FEEL the productivity. Where Costs get fixed due to long-term stable employment there must be free flow of Income, for the citizens to THINK profitability.
When you freeze both – Benefits and Costs the University shrinks and dies – which is a real possibility with the University of Jaffna if graduates are dependent of ‘local’ employment only. Costs and Benefits include money and goodwill which is sometimes reflected through status. The more difficult aspect of Costs & Benefits that is difficult to assess is the mind aspect – the Goodwill part of material part of the activity/ position / institution. The most difficult aspect is the heart – which is reflected through ‘ownership’. The owners would enjoy the path irrespective of the outcomes. The system of Natural Justice will allocated their outcomes as per their particular needs of the moment. Such owners will be happy to see the physical level outcomes through others. Their paths will be more enjoyable when the minds of those who also care about others work with them.
When you release both Costs and Benefits there is chaos.
Professor Hoole seems to be the better candidate on the basis of profitability, whilst his opponent Mr Kumaravadivel, from within the University of Jaffna itself seems to be the better candidate on the basis of productivity – especially in terms of Political Management. For Professor Hoole to succeed, he must have the ability to make the income / benefits of minds and money flow and have stability of staff and students. If the ‘local’ candidate Mr Kumaravadivel is to succeed, Income must be stable and firm whilst Costs must be allowed to flow freely – both in terms of money and mind/goodwill.
We had a similar situation here in Sydney Australia – at the University of New South Wales where Professor John Niland reigned as Vice Chancellor for a long time. But like the academics in University of Jaffna, Professor Niland failed to expand the thinking of the University of New South Wales during his time and this University lagged behind in Resource Management, due to excessive academic credit being promoted when the Benefits of the University Services was fixed in terms of money and status. Status becomes fixed when an institution freezes at the local level due to cronyism and the leaders wanting to ‘see’ their people in high positions. A genuine leader would want to have his people with him in their ‘earned’ positions. By failing to do this, Professor Niland and the Governing Council controlled by him caused the University to remain very ‘local’ in terms of thinking and ownership. The parallel of Professor Niland in Jaffna is the ‘local’ applicant/s for the position of Vice Chancellor. You would find their parallels in your political and family circles. I recently pointed out to some of my family members who were highly critical of this ‘localizing’ attitude in University of Jaffna, that they are themselves guilty of this within their family circles where their numbers are high.
When Professor Niland retired, the Governing Council of the University of New South Wales appointed Professor Rory Hume who, like Professor Hoole, worked in America and came back to his country of origin, Australia, during his retirement days. His accelerated move towards American systems with little consideration for the work reserves of locals led to his forced resignation. Many connected this ‘termination’ to a problem relating to Professor Hall who was promoting business at the expense of efficiency, and was doing so without including the migrant staff working in his unit. The problem belonged to Professor Hume’s predecessor Professor Niland, who failed to develop effective systems to manage resources – Human as well as Financial. I intuitively picked this up during my early life as Management Accountant at the University of New South Wales and I paid special attention to Liverpool Clinical School where Professor Hall was employed. But the then Financial Controller of the University of New South Wales, who was the right hand person of Professor Niland, denied me access to Grant information and bullied me and caused my services to be terminated . The genuine work done by me to develop the University Resource Management system worked through other migrant staff who abandoned due process and complained to the media with little concern for the reputation of their fellow investors in the University. They are the parallel of the Tamil National Alliance in the University of Jaffna matter.
The Medical Faculty of the University of New South Wales employed me back on contract and I was highly valued by those seeking to operate independently and within the spirit of the Law, within the University environment. I continued to challenge the Vice Chancellor and even went to prison to uphold my Truth. Tamils have compared me favourably with Madam Jayalalitha of Tamil Nadu who went to prison, came back and won more spectacularly. I have won the first round of legal action in this regard, and I believe firmly that I will continue to win at the physical level, as much as I seek to win for myself and for those who consider me a part of themselves. The rest will go into the Common Pool of International Resources to uphold Truth through the Just path.
Mr. President, we have the parallels of the Tamil National Alliance here in Australia also. They both seek to live in a ‘local’ world that physically looks like themselves. This element is necessary for those who are driven by ‘feelings’. Most real decisions in this world are taken on the basis of Feelings especially where Truth is abandoned as being a luxury. When the citizens of Jaffna University are able to feel motivated by the occupier of the position of Vice Chancellor, they would seek to own the University through the highest Administrative position which is the parallel of the Ministerial position. The battle is between the intellect and the physically observed; between the Minister and the Elected Member.
Right now what the University of Jaffna needs is leadership that at the physical level ‘looks’ like the primary owners (including the Public) of Jaffna University – so they would feel motivated by the Leadership to reflect University thinking in their homes and everyday life – as well as one that would keep moving towards the aspirations of all future investors many of whom are likely to be Expatriate Tamils seeking to come back to Sri Lanka not to retire but towards extending their International work life to include Sri Lanka.
Given that the ‘minds’ of Tamils is a major component of Costs and Benefits, I share with you some of the discussions on this issue in International forums:
LankaNewspapers.com
TNA: Keep Hoole out of Jaffna campus
Gaja
Senior Member
Dear John,
(February 08, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) I refer to your article in yesterday’s Guardian. It looks as if both of us are concerned with the real challenges faced by the Administrative community in Northern Sri Lanka. I was working on Public Administration in Northern Sri Lanka around the same time you were working on your answers to the challenges faced by the University Community in Northern Sri Lanka. This is also a challenge for every University Graduate who consciously supported or opposed the Tamil Tigers. The combination of the two (University qualification and the Rebellion for Freedom) is the University of Jaffna. To me, we need to therefore focus on the big picture and not individual personalities – except where we are able to ‘show’ that they acted in breach of their responsibilities as accepted by them.
As stated in my letter to the Government Agent of Jaffna (Click here to read ) , we, as part of the Global Tamil Community, donated land towards war Rehabilitation even when the war was active. Through that ‘gift’ we placed also ourselves in the people of that area. They say that there is God in everyone of us. Each time we help the needy – the real needy, we place ourselves in them. One who has the solution would do this by bringing that needy inside her/himself. If we do not have the solution, or if we are not received inside the recipient, we need to structure a system of costs and benefits – so costs and benefits would be Equal to show the whole picture at that level. The rest of us has been rejected by the needy – which means they no longer have a need.
When we release only enough opportunities / benefits to equal problems/costs, the service provider and the service receiver are ‘seen’ as equals. Through our donation, and the way it is idling, we learnt that we as Internationals are not the form of god inside the locals. Hence my recommendation to structure Business / Jobs to match the level of cost contribution by locals.
Their real need was to move away from their Caste conscious assessments – especially within themselves. In their Toddy Tapper community – Vannan (Dhoby / Washerman) is of lesser status than Nalavar (Toddy Tappers). Yet, they failed to punish themselves at least to the extent they took revenge against Vellalar (farmers) – which is reported to have happened as recently as 1995, in Vattukkottai. As per my observation, LTTE was able to suppress such discrimination when it kept such cadres in combat which suited those who were not able to heal themselves from within, including through faith in God/Natural Justice. To the extent they were idle, these differences surfaced to cause internal divisions within the LTTE. If the LTTE leadership had managed to keep on fighting, the cadre would have been too busy to surface ‘habitual reasons’ – which are the individual’s parallel of majority domination through race at national level. Here in Australia, white folks from within the University community also said when I complained of racial discrimination – that they also had experienced pain and loss and hence mine was not racial. If they had felt the pain and loss at the depth I felt – they would have found the solution at least within themselves.
Belief of an individual is most sacred and anyone who respects the sovereignty of a nation and therefore an individual, would accept expressions of belief in the environment in which the belief was born, until proven otherwise through systems Equally available to the believer and the challenger. Here in Australia, I was labeled a mentally ill criminal for expressing my belief through Due University Process. Truth ‘happened’ and the University paid a much higher price at the Public level – which price is the compensation that was due to me.
In summary – belief when expressed in the environment in which it is born, needs to be taken as True. It would always be right if surfaced in the environment in which it is born. When brought outside the environment, it needs to be structured firmly under the leadership of the highest common investor – which often is not the believer. To the extent LTTE expressed within its Belief Environment – it was right. But when it chose to bring it ‘out’ despite not being the highest common investor in the new environment – it came into a foreign environment and defeated itself.
As per my experience, racial discrimination happens most of the time, due to habit rather than conscious calculated moves. Likewise, revenge attacks from minorities when they think they are in power. If we lack the will to consciously override habit – we would continue to use habitual tools of discrimination which have become part of us. Habit cannot be removed by doing nothing. Acting out of habit is equivalent to doing nothing. Habit could be balanced by opposition over a period equal to the period over which habit was practiced – as happened to a degree through the LTTE. Affirmative actions would shorten this period. Truth cures immediately. Hence the need for sacrifice – as I did here in Australia. By curing myself, I cured Common Australians through Faith. Had Mr. Howard, our former Prime Minister, heard me directly in court, he would have contributed to preventing fears through Bali Bombings. Public records show that I warned Mr. Howard of bloodshed – in 1999. I did because like Sri Lanka, Australia is also my country. Faith is powerful and it works through even a minority of One. The moment we share our faith with others we get protected from any attacks at the physical level. Hence we need to know the Truth through ourselves.
When we ‘show’ this Truth – we need to give it physical structure. Nature’s laws tell us that there is an equal side to the side we ‘see’, provided we are standing on a straight line. Hence the need for ‘level playing field’. What we observe from both sides with still / independent minds is the Truth at that time and place. These are called facts. Facts not viewed through a still / independent mind – deviate us from knowing the Truth.
Hence we need to structure a Business path through Costs and Benefits that are seen as Equal. Like the Public Administrative system, the University system also needs this. I had to ‘renounce’ my earned benefits at the University of New South Wales, which is our Australian parallel of the University of Jaffna.
You say ‘And there lies the problem with our state universities – the appointment of persons out of patronage and political loyalty (and boxes of mango) rather than talent. Perhaps that is why private universities do better; not because state universities are intrinsically bad. For example the University of California at Berkeley, a state institution, is said by many to have the best postgraduate programmes anywhere’
To my mind,, you are comparing Mangoes with not Apples but sweet comfort of slavery to intellectual (ego) pleasures. A State university has the responsibility to uphold the majority values of the Public. A Private University on the other hand has the responsibility to produce Business outcomes that show global values. When two are mixed indiscriminately, the matter jumps from frying pan into the fire.
All educational institutions are primarily for the purpose of developing common faith with the society that maintains them. Most ‘local’ universities have a high component of faith based hierarchy, whilst most urban universities are bridges that connect us to the outside world. When there was controversy over the appointment of Vice Chancellor in 2006, I wrote as to why Dr. Hoole would not suit the position. (Appendix 2). I am yet to know of any improvement in this situation.
Taken on the basis of work for grades – the work of students is rewarded through ‘grades’. The benefits (cash and status) that the students are expected to receive through these certificates need to be Equal to the benefits that are paid to the employers – primarily staff of the University. Those who do ‘local’ subjects such as Tamil and Hindu culture in this instance, are likely to feel a deeper degree of faith with the local community. That is the value of their ownership – for which they also would have had to forego grades with other cultures – especially in Western society. Where the work and faith component of such students is greater than the work and faith component of others who are able to use their certificates in multicultural societies – for example like Dr. Hoole – may be experiencing difficulty accepting the leadership of the likes of Professor Shanmugalingam, unless they feel connected to people like us – from outside their local areas.
During the seminar conducted at the University of Jaffna , in January 2010, to make the connection with the Tamil Diaspora, the University Management demonstrated lack of vision for the future of the latter group. Like the local village leaders seeking funds for their houses and toilets – these academics sought cash for vehicles and buildings. Despite repeated efforts by me to share my wisdom with them in Democratic management of resources, they failed to identify with their need. Like Aborigines, they seem to have resigned themselves to fate. But that University is more than a local university to all those who fought against the quota system of University entrance – towards merit based system.
The University of Jaffna is the best Memorial of the Intellectual credits that we Tamils surrendered to be ‘free’ of what the Tamil Community considered to be Unjust Discrimination by majority race – especially through the quota system in entering Universities. It is therefore understandable that we would become less competitive at the global level if we remove that ‘war-memorial’ value. A primary motivator that influenced me to write to the GA Jaffna was also University students of lower caste. One such student said during my most recent stay – that someone of a higher caste who asked her for help to get ‘grades’ had also asked whether she was not afraid to live in that village?’ Our University student was upset by this and I took immediate measures to share my status with her and ‘show’ this lady my own caste status and that I was living as one of the villagers. The higher caste lady relaxed a bit more after that. To me, it is not different to the fears expressed by Diaspora Tamils about going to Sri Lanka. Both are right as per their belief – so long as they remain in their ‘local’ environments.
As for Business values in State funded Universities, the Universities that run courses for rich students – especially from overseas – have to drop their standards if they want to make a profit out of their work. The better alternative is to devolve power to such units and be seen as being their Equal. This happened to me through the University of Technology, Sydney – Insearch – through my channel partnership. Given that they both – the loss of status that I thought I had at the University of NSW and the gain of independent partnership at the University of Technology - ‘happened’ within their same State in Australia – I concluded that taken as a whole, the University system is truly self sufficient in our State and therefore in Australia.
If you are likewise able to combine your example – the University of California with the University of Jaffna – you would also surface valuable Truths or at least be able identify with my pictures.
To me, it is no coincidence that you picked University of California from which the Vice Chancellor of the University of New South Wales, Professor Rory Hume came. It was during his time that I was sent to prison for seeking to meet with him towards sharing my Truth – which was recognized by the Chancellor as well as the Dean of Medicine – the two positions – in between which the position of Vice Chancellor is sandwiched.
As per Wikipedia – the official site – “Wyatt R. "Rory" Hume DDS, PhD (born 4 January 1945) is an Australian-born academic. He served as UCLA Executive Vice-Chancellor between 1998 and 2002, and as The University of New South Wales' sixth Vice-Chancellor and President from 2002 to 2004.[1] Hume later served as Provost and Executive Vice President - Academic and Health Affairs at the University of California. Hume is currently the Provost at United Arab Emirates University.”
As per my brief but direct interaction with Professor Shamugalingam, he is ready to go back to his position as an academic, if he fails in his bid to keep his job as Vice Chancellor. As with Farmer caste and Toddy Tappers – we also have status differences between Academics and Administrators. Professor Hume is a highly certified Academic. During the time Australian government was strongly focused on developing the Higher Education sector, it facilitated smart foreigners to pursue their higher studies here in Australia – free of any fee. My husband is one such engineer from Sri Lanka. Likewise it paid high salaries to academics the same way farmers were promoted in Northern Sri Lanka – so much so that some of our relations retired from their ‘Public Service’ jobs to become full time farmers. But, like the Toddy Tappers who became good businessmen due to high consumption of toddy by the Farmer caste – even to the extent of the latter going into the homes of toddy tappers just for consumption of toddy (as on project basis) – Administrators became good cashiers through lucrative budget allocations – so much so that Vice Chancellor Academics would go into the home offices of mediocre accountants who in reality were only book-keepers and cashiers. The Vice Chancellors of the University of NSW were no exception to this practice. That was a legacy left behind by Professor Hume’s predecessor, who unlike Professor Hume – ‘stayed at home’ in Australia and hence was protected to a greater degree by his repayment to Australian society.
The Truth that surfaced due to my pain and loss, have continued – by Professor Hume subsequently taking up lower positions – just like Professor Shanmugalingam is preparing to.
Professor Shanmugalingam’s direct opposition – Dr. Hoole has likewise, accepted a position to structure an Engineering Faculty within University of Jaffna. But as per reports – Dr. Hoole failed to pay due respect to Professor Shanmugalingam when the latter questioned him about his claim for remuneration. By disrespecting Professor Shanmugalingam, Dr. Hoole was disrespecting that position Professor occupied – the position of Vice Chancellor – to the extent of genuine work and ego sacrifices by Professor Shanmugalingam to win that position. To the extent, University of Jaffna is a ‘local’ University – it needs hierarchical systems and the faith that go with such systems. Dr. Hoole disqualified himself in this regard.
By failing to structure a ‘Business approach’ to courses driven by grades – including engineering degree, Professor Shanmugalingam has already retired from that part of the University, that would cater to the younger generation. There was no response from the Vice Chancellor, to my proposal in Appendix 1 – a proposal prepared at the request of the Vice Chancellor.
Professor Shanmugalingam is the parallel of Professor Niland – who was Vice Chancellor from whom the position was transferred to Professor Hume of your University of California. Like you have done, there were many remarks against Professor Niland’s pursuit of pleasures also. Unless they were seen and/or known to have interfered with his work, or were in breach of rules, they need to be left out. It is for the individual to seek within and find his own solutions. Unless majority students of University of California are respected for sex within marriage only – you do not have the jurisdiction to take that approach. If indeed there was some Truth – it may indicate a need for legalizing de facto relationships which would then help the younger generation regulate their pleasures rather than rebel and separate in the name of freedom from their parents.
A good system would uphold the true values of all participants. To me, neither Professor Hoole nor Professor Shanmugalingam has earned the position needed by the Tamil Community as a whole. If we truly seek through our real needs – we will find that which is already available.
In the meantime, how about using your own investments with the custodians of power to arrange for this to be discussed through a seminar at our Development Secretariat in Thunaivi-Sangarathai-Vattukottai. Just make sure that you pay at least a nominal amount for the use of the facilities to show Equal status with our community there. If you are able to influence the Ministry or the staff concerned to allocate a small portion of the millions you claim were allocated for the purpose of “Improving the Relevance and Quality of Undergraduate Education” (please note the key word – Relevance), to represent the Government’s assessment of this achievement – I would conclude that you do have the basic requirements to be the Vice Chancellor of that University and therefore qualify to ‘tell’ all those who have failed to keep that job.
I was seeking to do that during my stay there last month – but Professor Shanmugalingam was too upset to even pay attention to me. Hence I went to Parameswara temple within the University campus and prayed for him and more importantly the University Community. A lady Administrator approached me whilst I was eating the Prasaatham (holy food) on the steps of the temple. I concluded that someone heard my prayer and was thanking me. Genuine work is never wasted. It is important to stay within our earned limits – so we do not become victims of stress. I helped Professor Shanmugalingam by doing what he should have done, said he had done – but failed to do. I surrendered the issue to Lord Parameswara – the Lord who destroys speed/haste. Faith based institutions need to be left to Natural Forces. When we step back and observe – we would see the beauty of Truth. A good soul in Muslim form - – Poet Asmin from Pothuvil - sent me this message in regards to my work yesterday “True writing lives on forever. Even the enemy’s war-sword would break in its presence”.
To me, even the mighty American Goliath - Academic Professor Hume broke (was dismissed by the Governing Council), in the presence (peaceful assembly by me) of this small Sri Lankan David. That is the power of Truth. In true status I had grown taller than Professor Hume and he would have seen it – if he had stayed within his area of Belief.
Thank you for sharing your mind also with us.
Yours sincerely,
Gaja Lakshmi Paramasivam
Appendix 1
PROPOSAL FOR PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN UNIVERSITY OF JAFFNA AND TAMIL DIASPORA
Background
After the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka, Tamil Diaspora is seeking to participate in developing new opportunities to feel connected to their roots in Sri Lanka and also facilitate Sri Lankans to connect to global partners.
A Conference on ‘Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Development of the Tamil Areas and the Role of the Diaspora’ was held at the University of Jaffna, on 12 January 2010. Follow up meetings were held and this proposal is being submitted in the consciousness of the sharing of knowledge and wisdom between Tamils academics and professionals.
The Diaspora has the funds and is able to access International Human Resources. University of Jaffna has the infrastructure and support facilities to implement the projects.
One of the areas open to international funding is in ‘Allied Health Studies’. Norwegian and Australian participants have indicated their willingness to resource new development.
This proposal submits the need for courses such as Prosthetics & Orthotics as well as Psychosocial Welfare, and outlines the broader resource structure required for the courses.
Needs Statement
The civil war in Sri Lanka has resulted in deep damage to physical, mental and social welfare of its people – especially to those in Northeastern Sri Lanka. Millions have been adversely affected by the war and recovery is estimated to take a few decades.
Whilst efforts are being made continuously by local authorities and international agencies, it is believed that there exists a need to take a structured approach towards sustainable services especially through education.
Jaffna is well known for its deep commitment to Higher Education and hence the University of Jaffna seems the most appropriate medium through which investment in sustainable services and new initiatives in Research and Education are undertaken, to benefit the victims of war and also to develop global networks. The victims of war have the experience of disability and therefore the need for Additional Health Services. Diaspora Tamils feel the need to share in the pain and losses of their community by sharing their greater wealth and confidence at global level. Diaspora Tamils propose to access international resources to make it a global project.
Objectives
The primary aim of the project is to heal victims of war and bring out some positive value from the pain and loss – through ongoing sharing of knowledge and wisdom.
In addition, this partnership between local residents in Sri Lanka and the International community is expected to lead to global standards of democracy and self sufficiency,’
It is anticipated that the courses would eventually be self-sufficient and would lead the University system in Sri Lanka towards self-sufficiency. In other words, the cash benefits from the course would be greater than the cash costs.
Plan of Operation
It is planned to launch two Courses – (1) Prosthetics & Orthotics (2) Psychosocial Studies.
The two courses would be developed by academics to be recruited and managed by University of Jaffna, Australian Tamil Management Service and its partner Xxxxxx. Once developed and approved by the University authorities, management would be democratic towards self sufficiency.
The terms of the courses would be 4 years each – with about 50 students recruited each year and academic staff of 20 per course. At operational stage University of Jaffna would take over full management of the courses. In summary, the project would be on Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. Close collaboration with Industry and Community would be included to ensure ongoing communication with the University and the People it serves.
Infrastructure Facilities to be established
Land and Buildings to accommodate students; as well as for research and workshops.
Vehicles for travel and transport
Laboratory Equipment
Timetable
March 2010 Establish Project; Appoint Project Managers
May 2010 Recruit staff to develop courses; Procure Land and commence building
June 2010 Develop course framework and establish subject committees
November 2010 Gain accreditation
January 2011 Commence student enrolments
Evaluation of the Project
The project will be evaluated periodically and the evaluation is expected to be formative and summative. Formative evaluation will provide feedback on development of facilities and courses as well as course delivery – in relation to process and content.
Summative evaluation would be through Objective Performance Indicators which would be developed as part of the Course Development exercise.
Budget
A Capital Budget of Rs. 41 million and an Operating Budget of about Rs.100 million over 5 years is estimated. (Details attached).
Gaja Lakshmi Paramasivam
26 February 2010
Appendix 2
http://www.yarl.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=10090
GAJA LAKSHMI PARAMASIVAM
AUSTRALIAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
906/ 56, Carr Street; Coogee N.S.W. 2034; Australia ;
Email gajalakshmi_param@bigpond.com ; Phone 61 2 9315--
His Excellency Mahinda Rajapakse
President of Sri Lanka
President's House
Colombo 1
Sri Lanka
18 March 2006
Your Excellency,
LEADERSHIP OF JAFFNA UNIVERSITY
I refer to the ongoing controversy over the appointment of Professor Rajan Hoole as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna. I believe that this is a sensitive issue and would like to share my wisdom with you and as urged by fellow Tamils who value my Service work, I offer also my Consulting Services on a nominal charge to develop the most appropriate leadership and help stabilize and strengthen the University of Jaffna.
University of Jaffna will continue to be a politically driven institution for sometime to come. If the investments by the intellectually driven Tamil citizens are to be protected, one needs leadership that is not only intellectually driven but is also politically sensitive and most importantly has courage to uphold the value of the work done by students and staff and the sacrifices made by the Public towards Higher Education. I believe that the most important resource we have towards this is the Human mind.
The Mind helps us resolve problems at the higher level ‘internally’ and hence we do not need to go through a physical war each time there is a change at the physical level. Since none of the candidates who applied for the position of Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna seems to have this higher level capability, the person needs the partnership of someone like myself at least initially, to help develop a position the requirements of which ‘anticipates’ the likely problems and prepares ahead towards diffusing the problem before it manifests itself at the physical level. It is obvious that none of the chosen candidates has done this. The thinking of the person who cares about ALL aspects of the University community, would automatically benefit the whole University.
The mind is like the path we travel. When we enjoy the path itself – the destination does not matter.
Professor Hoole, who has been chosen by you out of a list of three recommended by the University Authorities / Grants Commission, was nowhere to be seen in the Redevelopment of Jaffna itself. Professor Hoole may be a good candidate for a merit based Sri Lankan University, such as the University of Colombo but right now, with the political situation in Jaffna, Professor Hoole himself is likely to realize that it is not the right time for him to lead the intellectual students of University of Jaffna. It’s a question of demand and supply for the services of a Vice Chancellor for this particular University, at this particular point in time. When demand is high, assessment is on the basis of profitability and when supply is high, assessment is on the basis of productivity. For the physically driven i.e. for those who are traveling towards a fixed destination, the price/income is variable in the former whilst it is fixed in the latter. In terms of this position, profitability is measured by academic achievement whilst productivity is measured through success in General Management. Given that the Income/Benefit of the University of Jaffna is more or less fixed, one must have free flow of Costs to be able to FEEL the productivity. Where Costs get fixed due to long-term stable employment there must be free flow of Income, for the citizens to THINK profitability.
When you freeze both – Benefits and Costs the University shrinks and dies – which is a real possibility with the University of Jaffna if graduates are dependent of ‘local’ employment only. Costs and Benefits include money and goodwill which is sometimes reflected through status. The more difficult aspect of Costs & Benefits that is difficult to assess is the mind aspect – the Goodwill part of material part of the activity/ position / institution. The most difficult aspect is the heart – which is reflected through ‘ownership’. The owners would enjoy the path irrespective of the outcomes. The system of Natural Justice will allocated their outcomes as per their particular needs of the moment. Such owners will be happy to see the physical level outcomes through others. Their paths will be more enjoyable when the minds of those who also care about others work with them.
When you release both Costs and Benefits there is chaos.
Professor Hoole seems to be the better candidate on the basis of profitability, whilst his opponent Mr Kumaravadivel, from within the University of Jaffna itself seems to be the better candidate on the basis of productivity – especially in terms of Political Management. For Professor Hoole to succeed, he must have the ability to make the income / benefits of minds and money flow and have stability of staff and students. If the ‘local’ candidate Mr Kumaravadivel is to succeed, Income must be stable and firm whilst Costs must be allowed to flow freely – both in terms of money and mind/goodwill.
We had a similar situation here in Sydney Australia – at the University of New South Wales where Professor John Niland reigned as Vice Chancellor for a long time. But like the academics in University of Jaffna, Professor Niland failed to expand the thinking of the University of New South Wales during his time and this University lagged behind in Resource Management, due to excessive academic credit being promoted when the Benefits of the University Services was fixed in terms of money and status. Status becomes fixed when an institution freezes at the local level due to cronyism and the leaders wanting to ‘see’ their people in high positions. A genuine leader would want to have his people with him in their ‘earned’ positions. By failing to do this, Professor Niland and the Governing Council controlled by him caused the University to remain very ‘local’ in terms of thinking and ownership. The parallel of Professor Niland in Jaffna is the ‘local’ applicant/s for the position of Vice Chancellor. You would find their parallels in your political and family circles. I recently pointed out to some of my family members who were highly critical of this ‘localizing’ attitude in University of Jaffna, that they are themselves guilty of this within their family circles where their numbers are high.
When Professor Niland retired, the Governing Council of the University of New South Wales appointed Professor Rory Hume who, like Professor Hoole, worked in America and came back to his country of origin, Australia, during his retirement days. His accelerated move towards American systems with little consideration for the work reserves of locals led to his forced resignation. Many connected this ‘termination’ to a problem relating to Professor Hall who was promoting business at the expense of efficiency, and was doing so without including the migrant staff working in his unit. The problem belonged to Professor Hume’s predecessor Professor Niland, who failed to develop effective systems to manage resources – Human as well as Financial. I intuitively picked this up during my early life as Management Accountant at the University of New South Wales and I paid special attention to Liverpool Clinical School where Professor Hall was employed. But the then Financial Controller of the University of New South Wales, who was the right hand person of Professor Niland, denied me access to Grant information and bullied me and caused my services to be terminated . The genuine work done by me to develop the University Resource Management system worked through other migrant staff who abandoned due process and complained to the media with little concern for the reputation of their fellow investors in the University. They are the parallel of the Tamil National Alliance in the University of Jaffna matter.
The Medical Faculty of the University of New South Wales employed me back on contract and I was highly valued by those seeking to operate independently and within the spirit of the Law, within the University environment. I continued to challenge the Vice Chancellor and even went to prison to uphold my Truth. Tamils have compared me favourably with Madam Jayalalitha of Tamil Nadu who went to prison, came back and won more spectacularly. I have won the first round of legal action in this regard, and I believe firmly that I will continue to win at the physical level, as much as I seek to win for myself and for those who consider me a part of themselves. The rest will go into the Common Pool of International Resources to uphold Truth through the Just path.
Mr. President, we have the parallels of the Tamil National Alliance here in Australia also. They both seek to live in a ‘local’ world that physically looks like themselves. This element is necessary for those who are driven by ‘feelings’. Most real decisions in this world are taken on the basis of Feelings especially where Truth is abandoned as being a luxury. When the citizens of Jaffna University are able to feel motivated by the occupier of the position of Vice Chancellor, they would seek to own the University through the highest Administrative position which is the parallel of the Ministerial position. The battle is between the intellect and the physically observed; between the Minister and the Elected Member.
Right now what the University of Jaffna needs is leadership that at the physical level ‘looks’ like the primary owners (including the Public) of Jaffna University – so they would feel motivated by the Leadership to reflect University thinking in their homes and everyday life – as well as one that would keep moving towards the aspirations of all future investors many of whom are likely to be Expatriate Tamils seeking to come back to Sri Lanka not to retire but towards extending their International work life to include Sri Lanka.
Given that the ‘minds’ of Tamils is a major component of Costs and Benefits, I share with you some of the discussions on this issue in International forums:
LankaNewspapers.com
TNA: Keep Hoole out of Jaffna campus
Gaja
Senior Member
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