Curb on university ragging

3 May 2010 08:07 am

By Melanie Bamunusinghe


Measures are being put in place to curb ragging at universities and the Chairman of the University Grants Commission, Professor Gamaini Samaranayake is planning on implementing a system which involves new students and their parents signing an agreement ensuring that the student will not engage in any ragging activity.

At the National Convention on student discipline, anti-ragging and anti-violence held today, Chief Justice, Asoka de Silva said that even though ragging started in Europe, as of today Sri Lanka is considered the country worst affected by ragging worldwide.

“Ragging is not only happening in the universities of Sri Lanka, but are spreading to other educational institutions such as Technical Colleges at a rapid rate,” Chief Justice Asoka de Silva said.

The Chief Justice also said that a long list of  reasons have led to the decresing standards of educational institutions in Sri Lanka which includes formation of political unions and lawless activities among students.

It was discussed at the convention to implement a system of new students and their parents signing an agreement ensuring that the student will not engage in any ragging activity.

At the convention, the Prohibition of Ragging and other forms of Violence in Educational Institutions Act No. 20 of 1998 was the main topic of discussion.

Attorney General, Mohan Peiris, also present at the convention said that those who become violent raggers are those who were subjected to severe ragging in their freshmen years.

Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mahinda Balasuriya and Mr.Peiris both proposed the idea of the educational institutions and their administration getting more involved in the student ragging issue.





Pics. by Pradeep Dilrukshana