• Charge that lack of university academics/admin. for anti-ragging awareness a reason
• CID takes over inquiry into death of a uni. student

Civil society organisations (CSOs) yesterday (4) claimed that the lack of legal education and the inadequate enforcement of ragging-related laws are two key reasons behind the continuing ragging culture in the domestic higher-education system.

This, in the background of the recent alleged ragging-related death at the University of Sabaragamuwa.

The CSOs urged the Government and in particular, education authorities to initiate a programme to educate both university students and lecturers on the laws pertaining to ragging, especially the Prohibition of Ragging and other forms of Violence in Educational Institutions Act (No.20 of 1998), and law enforcement and education authorities to strictly enforce these laws.

Speaking with The Daily Morning, the Citizens of the People’s Struggle organisation’s General Secretary Chanaka Bandara stressed that the lack of knowledge about the said laws and the repercussions of subjecting a person to ragging or similar treatment is one of the key reasons behind the ragging culture in Sri Lanka.

He added that the lack of such knowledge among university students has resulted in them continuing the ragging culture with no regard for the law, while the lack of the same knowledge has resulted in university teachers not taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety of students against ragging.

“If these laws were enforced, students would not get killed in universities,” he opined, adding that the lack of support from university students and teachers weakens anti-ragging efforts.

“This situation also amounts to a failure on the part of university teachers and administrations to ensure the safety of students”, Bandara said, pointing out that it is a violation of constitutionally guaranteed safety for citizens.

He added that in this context, ragging is not an issue that concerns only the university environment. Moreover, he blamed university student groups with political agendas for their lack of interest in protecting students against ragging.

Meanwhile, it was reported that the investigation into Charith Dilshan’s death has been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). This investigation was based on complaints received regarding the students death, which alleged that the deceased’s suicide was linked to ragging.

During a discussion with a local media outlet, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that based on the ongoing investigations, cases will be filed against the culprits under the criminal law.

In this context, the University of Sabaragamuwa’s administration came under fire for inadequate action taken to stop the ragging culture within the university, which prompted the university’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Sunil Shantha to appoint a three-member committee to investigate the student’s death.