BY Buddhika Samaraweera Against the backdrop of several parties calling for the elimination of ragging in universities and higher education institutions, clashes and issues related to ragging are being reported from several universities and higher education institutions such as the Universities of Peradeniya, Sri Jayewardenepura, and Kelaniya, the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL), and the Institute of Technology of the University of Moratuwa. After an incident where a group of pro-ragging students attacked a group of anti-ragging students who were having lunch at a canteen in the Peradeniya University premises, Peradeniya University Dean of the Arts Faculty Dr. Prabhath Ekanayake, following discussions with the Faculty Board and University teachers, had decided to suspend the academic activities of the said faculty until further notice. Speaking to The Morning on Tuesday (4), he said that academic activities will not resume until the students’ union of the university gives a written assurance that there will be no incidents related to ragging or any other clashes. He had also taken steps to suspend 11 students with regard to the incident, and said that their intention is to eliminate ragging from the education system, or at the very least, from the Peradeniya University. Meanwhile, a notice issued to the students by the Dean of the Engineering faculty of Peradeniya University, which was seen by The Morning, stated that there have been complaints about several incidents related to ragging within the Engineering Faculty in the past few weeks. The notice further stated that as the relevant complaints claim that there are voice messages, video footage, and other evidence related to those incidents, the students are requested to provide the dean, or any other relevant official with that evidence in order to take necessary steps. It is also being reported on social media platforms, particularly on Facebook these days that new students are being ragged in several faculties including the arts faculty of the Sri Jayewardenepura University. The freshers of the university, who secretly give information to various social media platforms, have said that they are forced into following mandates like wearing clothes as prescribed by the senior students of the university. In addition, they have said that the use of public facilities such as canteens and benches of the university should be done according to the instructions of senior students. There have been many incidents reported where new students of Kelaniya University, being ragged by senior students in various ways. It is reported that new students, especially female students, should adhere to guidelines prescribed by the senior students for things such as dressing, hairstyling, and using the hostel facilities. According to sources advice on such matters are given through WhatsApp groups, and a number of such messages are now being circulated on social media platforms. It is further reported that some freshers have been forced to attend certain protests organised by the senior students. A number of incidents related to ragging are also reported in the OUSL, which has facilities for following degree and diploma courses on a self-finance basis. It is reported that students are being ragged through various means. For instance, the new students of the Engineering Faculty of the University are reported to require permission from senior students, even to bring a laptop to the faculty, also, making it compulsory for female students to be accompanied by two students when walking in the University premises, while further imposing certain limits on the use of benches in the premises. Furthermore, another group of pro-ragging students of the Institute of Technology affiliated to the University of Moratuwa had attacked a group of students who are against ragging earlier this week. The videos related to the incident are currently being circulated on social media platforms and a video shows one of the students coming and threatening the student who is recording the incident to stop doing so. There has also been a lot of talk about the attack by a large group of pro-ragging students on a small number of anti-ragging students. Following the incident, the Director of the Institute of Technology of the Moratuwa University had taken steps to make the premises out of bounds for the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 batches of students with effect from Wednesday (5), until further notice. The relevant batches of students had also been asked to leave the institute premises immediately. Attempts to contact the relevant officials of the said universities and higher education institutions were not successful. Meanwhile, incidents related to ragging in universities and education institutions were discussed in Parliament on Wednesday (5). During the discussion, Minister of Education Dr. Susil Premajayantha, State Minister of Higher Education Dr. Suren Raghavan, and State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Thennakoon had pointed out that due to the incidents related to ragging in universities, students are being subjected to great injustice, and that therefore, urgent measures should be taken to prevent such incidents from happening. Ragging has been frequently associated with a broad spectrum of physical, behavioural, emotional and social problems among victims, and is attributed to the increased risk of suicide and drop-outs among students attending universities and other higher education institutions. Many senior students have reportedly said that they do not wish to rag juniors but have to do so due to peer pressure. Also, although some new students or freshers enjoy being ragged by their seniors, other students despise it. There have been several incidents where ragging related incidents resulted in the deaths of students and suicide attempts.