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India presents books to Jaffna library

By V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO MARCH 24. India today presented a collection of books, comprising over 1,000 English and Tamil titles, to the renovated Jaffna Public Library, the re-opening of which was called off last month following threats from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

In a ceremonial handing over of the books at the Indian Cultural Centre here this evening, the Indian High Commissioner, Nirupam Sen, underscored the importance of freedom of speech, democratic values and the spirit of inquiry. Terming the contribution of the books as "a project very close to our hearts'', Mr. Sen said 1,392 books, comprising 1057 titles, were being given to the library. Highlighting the importance of freedom of speech and democratic values, Mr. Sen expressed the hope that these would help in creating a "spirit of critical questioning, not dogmatic acceptance''.

``The books presented by India span a very wide range," Mr. Sen said,

pointing out that all the important recent works in the collection were founded on democratic values.

The books presented include those on arts, natural and social sciences, international relations and writings on the Indian Constitution. Referring to recent commitments made to human rights, pluralism and democracy, Mr. Sen hoped that these "will be translated into action and reality''. Terming the two main ethnic groups — Sinhalese and Tamils — as the two eyes of the island, the High Commissioner said: "The two eyes for a long time, have been out of focus."

He expressed the hope that "a solution would be found for the tragic and historic astigmatism''.

The books were handed over to the president of the Tamil United Liberation Front, V. Anadasangaree, who was to have inaugurated the library on February 14.

Mr. Anadasangaree urged India to put its "full weight to bring peace'' to the island. Recalling the historic ties between the two countries, he said "we should forgive and forget'' the past and hoped that the "same old ties" between the two countries would be revived.

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