### Governance Crisis at Jaffna and Uduvil Colleges 📉

Recent developments within the Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India (JDCSI) have sparked a major governance and ethical crisis affecting two of the region's historic educational institutions. • Key Incident & Legal Action The arrest of a senior JDCSI priest for the alleged sexual assault of two young women in Kilinochchi has intensified calls for reform. The priest is reportedly a close associate of the current JDCSI leadership. • Institutional Governance & Funding Jaffna College: Managed by a Boston-based trust. Due to "misgovernance," trustees now bypass the Board, sending funds directly to the Principal’s account from 2025. Uduvil Girls’ College: Heavily influenced by JDCSI; current leadership faces allegations of "nepotism" (the Bishop’s wife and sister-in-law hold key management and board roles). • Financial Integrity & Malpractice The Bishop reportedly admitted to keeping Rs. 5.5 million in school funds under personal custody, leading to a lawsuit by the Jaffna College Alumni Association (JCAA). JDCSI is accused of siphoning staff salaries at Uduvil as "religious contributions" and inflating membership figures to maintain influence. • Impact on Education & Wellbeing The shift toward JDCSI control has reportedly diluted the English-medium liberal education tradition. Concerns are growing for the safety of hostel students, who primarily hail from historically underprivileged areas in the Vanni and East. • Proposed Reforms Alumni groups are campaigning to revert both schools to their original multi-denominational Protestant status to ensure transparent oversight and professional management, independent of JDCSI’s internal administrative conflicts.