Our History Part 2
About US
I) History of Nadeswara College Part 2
(1990 to 2016)
Port at Kankesanthurai (KKS) was already closed by the SriLankan Navy for security reasons (between 1983 and 1993) Kankesanthurai and nearby areas ( town was within the Valikamam region ) was declared a High Security Zone (HSZ). Approximately 6000 acres of land was confiscated by the SriLankan army and about 25,000 Tamil families fled Kankesanthurai. The largest manufacturing industry the KKS Cement Factory was forced to stopped production in 1991. Nadeswara College was not exception and sadly it displaced to nearby temporary locations about 8 Km away from KKS. The whole of the infrastructure disappeared. As a result of this thousands of students who were educated at Nadeswara College declined to couple of hundreds. This is because the civilians at KKS moved to either various parts of the country or left the country.
Since displacement, Nadeswara College was functioning within a Temple inn (Madam), a private house and inside other large school’s compounds with special arrangements on a staggered time slot (part time) basis. Immediately after the displacement Nadeswara College moved to Skandavarodaya College in Chunakam (about 6km from KKS). We give below the chronological order of our school’s movements since the displacement.
1. June 1990 to 09.07.1995 at Skandavarodaya College Chunakam (2 to 5pm then morning sessions)
2. July 1995 to 24.07.1995 at Manuel Maha Vidyalayam, Uduvil
3. Aug 1995 to 19.09.1995 at Sivakami Amman Temple Inn (Madam). Inuvil
4. Oct 1995 displaced
5. 01,01,1996 to April 1996 at Thirunavukkarasu Maha Vidyalayam, Kodigamam
6. 05.1996 to May 1996 at Sivakami Amman Temple Inn (Madam) at Inuvil
7. 06.2000 to Sept 2004 at a private house
8. 10.2004 to Sept 2005 at Kandiah Tamil Vidyalayam, Chunakam
9. 10.2005 to Feb 2016 at Co-operative Hospital Buildings at Tellipallai.
2. July 1995 to 24.07.1995 at Manuel Maha Vidyalayam, Uduvil
3. Aug 1995 to 19.09.1995 at Sivakami Amman Temple Inn (Madam). Inuvil
4. Oct 1995 displaced
5. 01,01,1996 to April 1996 at Thirunavukkarasu Maha Vidyalayam, Kodigamam
6. 05.1996 to May 1996 at Sivakami Amman Temple Inn (Madam) at Inuvil
7. 06.2000 to Sept 2004 at a private house
8. 10.2004 to Sept 2005 at Kandiah Tamil Vidyalayam, Chunakam
9. 10.2005 to Feb 2016 at Co-operative Hospital Buildings at Tellipallai.
Old Students Association of Nadeswara College (KKS) tried to find a long lease place for its location. Old students’ association in the UK was formed in 1997 and they played a big role working along with Old students Association (KKS to which principal was the president) to fund and secure a 100-year lease land with an existing building (that was used as a co-operative hospital at Tellipallai. The school was functioning at Tellipallai from 2015until 2016. In 2016 the school at KKS was officially handed over to Nadeswara College administration. As you can see the longest temporary period the school functioned was at the Co-operative Hospital buildings. Our OSA also supported the school for additional temporary sheds for the classrooms too. We’re very proud of this achievement because the school was almost given closing down orders and to merge with other schools. The danger of our school’s disappearance was prevented by our role played to certain extent with the relevant departments too.
Except the one new double storey Classroom /function hall building rest of the buildings (Physics, Chemistry and Biology laboratories, the library block, the music room, Dance Room, The Home Science Laboratory, Metal workshop etc etc.) have been demolished/grounded by the Spillanian army. Thankfully, this newly built block survived because army was occupying this building during this period. At present the school is occupying only this building for classrooms. office and a very small-scale laboratory room to teach up to GCE) O/L only.
Since the war is over and the government is gradually handing over the lands of the KKS residents. Along with the infrastructure growth of KKS, we are very optimistic the school number of students will certainly grow as well. Economically, according to government’s future plans the port at KKS. Jaffna International airport at Palely, KKS and fisheries development, we sincerely hope, will bring infrastructure back to KKS. We also understand that the KKS cement factory that was one of the biggest industries in Sri Lanka probably will start functioning with foreign assistance such as Korea and India. agriculture will grow. All these will result in thousands of students seeking admission to Nadeswara college. Nadeswara College will have to become the focal point again. In order to achieve this, we need assistance at a very high level to re-build the school. We feel that Nadeswara College and A1 grade school should be looked at as a special case in the region as we strongly believe that no other big schools have faced this critical situation like ours. We have been still neglected because of the smaller number of students at present. But we strongly feel that Economy of KKS will grow exponentially. We kindly request the authorities to consider “Nadeswara College” as a special and most needy educational establishment.
The school was handed back to Nadeswara College administration In February 2016. It is now functioning at its original place at Kankesanthurai. Most of the buildings of the school have been demolished / grounded after the civil war ended in 2009. We have no idea why this has happened? re-building of our school has become utmost important for all of us.
Prepared by: Sellathurai Shanmuganthan
Trustee, Nadeswara Old Student Trust & College Coordinator.
Trustee, Nadeswara Old Student Trust & College Coordinator.