Universtiy of Jaffna
The establishment of a full-fledged University in Jaffna had been a long-standing aspiration of the people of Jaffna. This was fulfilled when an order made by the Honourable Minister of Education established a campus of the University of Sri Lanka in 1974. The campus became an independent and autonomous University bearing the name University of Jaffna on January 1, 1979.
Faculty of Medicine University of Jaffna
The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Jaffna was established on the 7th of August 1978. It was ceremonially opened on the 8th of October 1978. The Provincial Hospital Jaffna was declared as the Teaching Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine at the same time.
Prof. A. A. Hoover was the founder Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. Prof. A. A. Hoover with his fourty years of University teaching experience was an asset to the Faculty in its formative years. Prof. R. Kanagasuntheram, an internationally renowned Professor of Anatomy was the second Dean of the Faculty. He was responsible for getting endowment for Chairs in Orthopaedic Surgery and Oncology. Prof. C. Sivagnanasundram, Professor of Community Medicine, WHO Consultant, Novelist and Social worker became the third Dean.