The Jaffna Science Association (JSA) was initiated in 1991 by Professor A Thurairajah, the then Vice-chancellor of University of Jaffna, along with the veteran dons of the University, and he was elected as the First President of the Association. The primary objectives of the JSA are dissemination of scientific knowledge among the intellectuals in Jaffna region. The JSA comprises four sections.
Section A : for Pure Science
Section B : for Applied Science and Technology
Section C : for Health Sciences
Section D : for Social Sciences
The JSA has an executive committee consisting of President, President Elect, Past President, General Secretary, Asst. General Secretary, Treasurer, Asst. Treasurer, Chairperson-Section-A, Chairperson-Section-B, Chairperson-Section-C and Chairperson-Section-D. Each section also has a sectional committee consisting of Chairperson, Secretary, Editor and six committee members (as per amendment of 2018).
For the past many years the Jaffna Science Association has been working tirelessly to achieve its goals. It has been conducting popular talks, seminars, research paper discussions and school science programs to disseminate scientific knowledge and its advancements to university staff, students, school teachers & children and to the general public. In addition to these activities the applied science section of the JSA publishes a scientific magazine entitled “பிரயோகவிஞ்ஞானச் சுடர் (Pirayoga vingnanach chudar)” in bilingual to disseminate scientific knowledge. The Pure Science section has started publishing a magazine named “யாழின் தேடல் (Yarlin Thedal)” consisting of variety of articles suitable to Students and general public. The JSA also publishes newsletters to convey the current information about the JSA and its activities, in addition to the usual publications of two volumes of proceedings of the annual sessions – one carries the abstracts presented in the current annual sessions, and the other carries the presidential address, chairpersons’ addresses and popular talks of the previous year annual sessions.