Four third-year students of the Wayamba University of Sri Lanka in Kuliyapitiya have been remanded until 29th September after being presented before Kuliyapitiya Magistrate Mihil Chiranthana Sathurusinghe. 

They were arrested by the Kuliyapitiya Police in connection with an incident where a second-year student was physically assaulted during a ragging episode, resulting in injuries.

The students remanded are residents of Hettipola, Katupotha, Marakawila, and Ukuwela, and are currently enrolled in their third year at Wayamba University.

Police informed the court that the assaulted student is receiving inpatient treatment at Kuliyapitiya Teaching Hospital, and that a preliminary identification parade must be conducted to confirm the suspects. (Newswire)

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The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka today (09) ordered the University Grants Commission (UGC) to strictly enforce the set of guidelines currently in place to prevent ragging in universities.

The panel of judges also directed the Minister of Education and Higher Education to provide the necessary financial, technological support and facilities to implement those guidelines effectively.

This order was issued in connection with a fundamental rights petition filed by first-year student Pasindu Hirushan de Silva, who continues to suffer physically and mentally from injuries caused by ragging in 2020. 

The court order was issued by a three-judge bench comprising Shiran Gunaratne, Priyantha Fernando, and Sobitha Rajakaruna.

The judges further ordered that the case be called again on January 14 to review progress on the implementation of these directives. (Newswire)

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Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Training, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, has instructed officials to investigate not only ragging but also all forms of violence taking place within the university system and other higher education institutions across Sri Lanka.

Speaking during a meeting held today (July 2) at the Ministry of Education, with members of the National Task Force on the Elimination of Ragging and Campus Violence, PM Amarasuriya emphasized the need to develop practical recommendations and initiate immediate action to curb these issues.

She reaffirmed that the task force, appointed for a three-year term, would be empowered with the necessary authority and state backing to examine incidents of violence by both academic and non-academic staff and students, and to take appropriate measures.

Representatives of the task force highlighted several contributing factors to violence in higher education, including a lack of proper relationships between students and staff, toxic student attitudes toward ragging, and the misuse of violence as a means to demand respect or assert authority. They also pointed to the stress created by academic pressure and the power dynamics within faculties.

PM Amarasuriya stressed the need for both short-term and long-term strategies, calling for updated legal frameworks and mechanisms to tackle violence, along with mindset-changing programs. She noted that legal action alone would not suffice and that preventive educational measures must also be adopted.

Also addressing the meeting, Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education, Madhura Senewiratne, underlined the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of students subjected to any form of violence. (Newswire)

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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)

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The academic activities of 22 students from the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka in Oluvil have been suspended over an incident of ragging.

According to the university administration, a group of second and third-year students from the Engineering Faculty was involved in ragging several first-year students. 

A video of a group of freshmen being ragged had also been circulated on social media.

Following a preliminary inquiry conducted into the incident, the university decided to suspend the academic activities of the 22 students accused of ragging. 

It is reported that a special committee consisting of university professors has been appointed to carry out a formal investigation into the incident and the Police have also launched a probe into the matter. 

This is the latest incident of ragging at a Sri Lankan University to be reported in the recent past. (Newswire)

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No cases have been filed in the last 5 years on ragging by the 17 state universities established under the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya informed the Parliament today. 

Briefing the Parliament, PM Amarasuriya said the Ministry of Higher Education has taken several measures and has formulated a programme to prevent ragging at higher education institutes in Sri Lanka. 

PM Amarasuriya further said that recommendations made by the University Grants Commission (UGC) have already been implemented in this regard.

She explained that they are making necessary amendments to the circular issued by the UGC pertaining to ragging, strengthening and improving the existing system for receiving complaints related to ragging, and enabling the existing complaints hotline to be operational 24/7. 

The Prime Minister further said that Ragging Prevention Task Forces have been established at all state universities under the guidance of a subcommittee appointed by the UGC.

“A system has been made where any complaint made through this system will immediately notify the Task Force and UGC officials of the incident,” she said. 

PM Amarasuriya also revealed that it has been proposed to establish a Victim-Focused Support System, which will further strengthen the complaint system and provide necessary support for the victims and witnesses.

“Through this system, we intend to provide legal, psychological and medical support, as well as the necessary Police assistance. This system will also enable the coordination among other relevant authorities. It will further provide a rehabilitation process for those accused of ragging. It will also provide training for the university and hostel authorities on maintaining the confidentiality of victims and witnesses. The UGC has already issued a circular containing the guidelines of the new Victim-Focused Support System,” she said. 

PM Amarasuriya said that awareness programs against ragging have also been introduced for all university students, including those regarding student councils. 

She pointed out that it has been observed that ragging at state universities is not limited to first-year students, but has become a traditional activity spreading to other senior years as well, adding that it is a serious issue in the university system at present. 

Minister of Higher Education and PM Harini Amarasuriya made the remarks responding to questions raised by the opposition. (Newswire) 

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A student from the Kuliyapitiya Technical College was rescued by local residents after reportedly jumping into a lake following severe ragging. 

The incident, which was caught on camera, led to the student being admitted to the Kuliyapitiya Hospital for treatment.

According to Police, the student revealed she had faced extreme and abusive ragging at the college, which prompted her actions.

An internal investigation has been launched by the institution, and four students have been arrested in connection with the incident. 

The suspects will be produced before the Kuliyapitiya Magistrate’s Court on ragging-related charges. (Newswire)

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Ten students, who were arrested in connection with the ragging incident at the Sabaragamuwa University, have been further remanded until May 29 by Balangoda Magistrate Bhagya Dilrukshi.

The suspects were produced before the Balangoda Magistrate’s Court earlier today, following which the court extended their remand custody.

The case relates to the death of Charith Dilshan, a second-year student of the Faculty of Engineering Technology, who died by suicide on April 29.

Although he had left a handwritten note stating that he was taking his own life due to depression, his family and friends have alleged that he took this step after being unable to bear the ragging at the university.

Following an investigation launched into the incident, the students were arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department and were presented before the court. (Newswire)

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Two more students of the Sabaragamuwa University have been arrested in connection with investigations into a complaint of ragging of second-year students of the Faculty of Technical Engineering.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is conducting further investigations into a complaint filed in this regard at the Samanalawewa Police on 29 April. 

Following investigations, two third-year students of the Faculty of Technical Engineering were arrested this morning. The students are to be produced before the Balangoda Magistrate’s Court today. 

According to the Police, 10 students have been arrested so far in connection with the complaint. The CID is conducting further investigations. 

The Police investigations come following the death of a student of the Sabaragamuwa University, who had reportedly died by suicide following an incident of ragging.

Sri Lanka Police launched an investigation after a complaint had been filed at the Samanalawewa Police by a fellow student, alleging the death was linked to ragging. (Newswire)

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The Attorney General has prepared a series of guidelines to eliminate incidents of ragging in state universities of Sri Lanka.

This was conveyed to a three-member Supreme Court bench consisting of Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, and Justices Shiran Gunaratne and Priyantha Fernando. 

The court was informed of the guidelines when the fundamental rights petition filed by a student affected by a ragging incident at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in 2020 was taken up in court. 

Responding, the Chief Justice instructed that the guidelines be forwarded to all universities, that any proposed amendments should be incorporated into the final draft, and that steps be taken to prepare and file the final draft before the court.

The FR petition requested an order to prepare guidelines for eradicating ragging in state universities.

The petitioner further claimed he sustained severe physical injuries and brain trauma after a large backhoe tyre was rolled down during a ragging incident at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, resulting in him being hospitalized for nearly three months. (Newswire)

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Six male students of the Sabaragamuwa University have been arrested for allegedly ragging a female student. 

The Police said the suspects were arrested after reporting to the Samanalawewa Police Station on Sunday (Jan 28).

The arrests were made based on a complaint filed through the 1997 Police hotline on January 14 on the ragging incident.

Following investigations launched by the Samanalawewa Police, the suspects aged between 23 and 25 years were arrested.

The suspects are fourth-year students of the Science and Languages Faculties of the Sabaragamuwa University, and residents of Morawaka, Rukgahawila, Aluththarama, Imaduwa, and Kithalawa. 

The Samanalawewa Police is conducting further investigations into the incident. (NewsWire)

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