'Ragging didn't cause for closure'

The student union of the Sabaragamuwa University has rejected that the university has been closed due to the ragging on last Saturday.

Union's President Dhanushka Dissanayake was addressing a media briefing yesterday at the Nippon Hotel, said they were not involved in any sort of ragging.

He asked the authorities to reopen the university for the academic work soon.

Although the university authority decided to take disciplinary action against 18 students over an alleged ragging, they are innocent, he said. University students have been informed to vacate the university premises Saturday evening.

However, university students held a protest opposite the university demanding the opening of the university.

Sabaragamuwa University Acting Vice Chancellor Professor S Priyanath said the university authority identified the students who were involved in the ragging and stern action will be taken against them.

The Sabaragamuwa University will reopen next Monday.