Palaly Teachers' Training College Should Be Upgraded into a Faculty of the University: MP Sritharan
07-Nov-2026.
"The 54.5 acres of land belonging to the Palaly Teachers' Training College remain under the control of the military. If the military continues to occupy an institution dedicated to education, it means that education in this country has effectively been brought to its knees.
"The government must immediately release the land belonging to the Palaly Teachers' Training College and convert the institution into a faculty of the University of Jaffna," said S. Sritharan, Jaffna District MP representing the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi.
He made these remarks while speaking during the parliamentary debate on a Private Member's Motion to upgrade Colleges of Education into university faculties, held on November 6, 2026.
Elaborating further, he said:
"When institutions such as the Kotagala College of Education and the Sripada College of Education in the Hill Country are upgraded into faculties affiliated with universities, they will be able to better fulfil the educational needs and provide essential educational facilities to the nine lakh Tamil people living in the region.
"The Department of Education at the University of Jaffna should also be upgraded into a separate faculty. Only then can the management sector develop further, particularly in meeting the professional and academic needs of principals, educationists and teachers.
"According to information provided by the Valikamam North Divisional Secretariat, the 54.5 acres of land belonging to the Palaly Teachers' Training College in Jaffna remain under military control.
"If the military is holding an institution dedicated to education under its control, it means that education in this country has effectively been brought to its knees.
"Palaly Teachers' Training College has produced hundreds of teachers over the years. If it continues to function as a military camp, the land must be released.
"This government came to Jaffna and promised to release lands, transform people's lives and bring about development. Therefore, the land belonging to the Palaly Teachers' Training College must also be released and the institution converted into a faculty of the University of Jaffna," he said.
