SC grants leave to proceed with BASL’s FR petition on university ragging

Colombo, Nov. 19 (Daily Mirror) - The Supreme Court yesterday (18) granted leave to proceed with two Fundamental Rights petitions, including one filed by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), in relation to the tragic ragging and subsequent suicide of 23-year-old Charith Dilshan Dayananda, a second-year student of the Faculty of Technology at the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.

A two-judge bench comprising Justice Yasantha Kodagoda and Justice Janak de Silva granted leave to proceed, noting that the petitioners had established a prima facie case of a violation of Article 12(1) of the Constitution.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court issued eleven interim orders, including a directive to the IGP and the Attorney General to submit a report on the investigation and progress of prosecutions concerning the incident, under and in terms of the Prohibition of Ragging and Other Forms of Violence in Educational Institutions Act, No. 20 of 1998.

The BASL, represented by its President Rajeev Amarasuriya and Secretary Chathura Galhena and the parents of Charith Dilshan, filed these petitions alleging that Charith had been subjected to sustained and brutal ragging by senior students. The petitions state that this harassment culminated in a degrading and traumatic incident on April 26, 2025, after which he had committed suicide. 

The petitioners further contend that the failure of the Sabaragamuwa University authorities, the University Grants Commission, the Police and other responsible parties to enforce anti-ragging laws and ensure student safety had led to this tragedy.

Senior Counsel Senany Dayaratne appeared for the BASL, while President’s Counsel Avindra Rodrigo appeared for the parents of Charith Dilshan.