Ragging in its death throes - SB

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

'Ragging is down by 99 percent and only Peradeniya and Ruhuna are still affected by the malaise', Higher Education Minister SB Dissanayake said.

'University authorities including Vice Chancellors, Deans and Lecturers have taken timely action in accordance with the Higher Education Ministry guidelines to stamp out ragging from the university system.

Unlike the past, a majority of university students are against ragging', the minister added. However, Vice Chancellors and Deans of Peradeniya and Ruhuna universities have failed to take proper measures to eradicate ragging from these universities. Therefore, the authorities of both universities are responsible for ragging incidents taking place at these universities. As an outcome of this situation new entrants to Peradeniya University are looking for alternate universities.

The ministry will take steps to eliminate ragging at the Pali and Buddhist University since it has been reported certain ragging incidents at the university, had taken place, he further added.

Ragging will be permanently wiped out from the university system in the near future, minister Dissanayake noted.