The Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Training has appointed a National Task Force to eliminate ragging, harassment, and violence across Sri Lanka’s universities and higher education institutions.
According to the ministry, the decision follows a meeting held on 14 May, under the aegis of Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Training Harini Amarasuriya.
The appointment was formalized by Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwawa as part of a renewed effort to foster safer and more inclusive learning environments.
The Task Force is mandated to address not only ragging but also various forms of violence and harassment affecting students, faculty, and non-academic staff, whether caused by fellow students or institutional authorities.
The 16-member panel includes academics, legal representatives, ministry officials, student union leaders, and representatives from child protection and law enforcement agencies.
The Task Force will focus on developing national policies and legal frameworks to address violence and harassment in higher education, proposing institutional mechanisms to prevent such incidents and enable rapid response, conducting awareness programs as part of a national strategy to create a violence-free academic culture, and coordinating with state and non-state actors to protect victims and offer psychosocial support
The ministry further states that this initiative aims not just to respond to incidents, but to proactively build an academic environment founded on respect, safety, and dignity for all. (Newswire)