Ragging and its ugly history in Academia

To avoid ragging, Students who have the means, will go overseas, but what happens to the other students who cannot afford it? 

By Vinodini Jayawardena  

University is an institution for academic development and the promotion of a critical learning environment.  Hence, universities should be an exemplary place, way beyond the social norms.  It’s a place where the cream of the students are identified in schools and nurtured to take responsible positions around the globe. Therefore, the Chancellors and the administrative bodies should not allow such places to be used by inhumane people for flashy words called ‘bonding’ or ‘socialising’, much to the trauma of students.  Repercussion of such inhuman activities, the following student paid their price.

• 1975-Rupa Rathnaseeli of Peradeniya University leapt off the second floor of Ramanathan Hall to avoid sexual abuse, and was paralysed. Later, she committed suicide.
• 1992 - A Female student was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend at the University of Kelaniya.
• 1993 - Chaminda Punchihewa died as a result of ragging at Ruhuna University.
• 1997 - A 1st-year female Ruhuna University student committed suicide after she was subject to severe sexual harassment.
• 1998 - Varapragash died of injuries sustained in ragging at Peradeniya University.

Perhaps with ragging going out of control in the Universities of Sri Lanka, Prohibition of Ragging and Other Forms of Violence in Educational Institutions Act, No. 20 of 1998, was introduced - where any person convicted in terms of the provisions of this piece of legislation is punishable by a jail term with rigorous imprisonment and payment of compensation to the victim.  In the case of ragging causing sexual harassment, grievous hurt to any student, the punishment is even severe with a jail term of 10 years. Yet, freshers continue to be subjected to physical and mental harassment, even leading to deaths and hospitalisations at times.  

Despite a strong anti-ragging act in force, inhuman ragging was taking place in the Universities and was not enforced. Had the act been enforced few lives on the below list could have been saved. 

• 2002 - Ovitigala Vithanage Samantha was killed at Sri Jayawardenepura while attempting to prevent ragging.
• 2002 - A female student was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend at Kelaniya University.
• 2011 - A female student was semi-paralysed in a limb due to ragging at Ruhuna University.
• 2011 - Three Peradeniya University students were arrested for sexually assaulting a fresher.
• 2013-Three 2nd-year female students of Peradeniya University were charged with ragging a group of female freshers in a toilet.
• 2014-Suicide of a former male student inside Peradeniya University, after he was forced to leave the University due to ragging.
• 2015-The Suicide of a Sabaragamuwa University fresher, Amali Chathurika, reportedly due to ragging. 
• 2018 - Five Buddhist monk students were remanded by the Matara Magistrate Court over ragging University of Ruhuna
• 2020-Sri Jayawardenepura University tyre incident paralysed student
• 2020-Sri Jayawardenepura University 21 year old student lies in intensive care after ragging
• 2022-Four students were injured following an alleged ragging incident, which had reportedly occurred at the University of Peradeniya
• 2022 - Suicide of a 24-year-old, 4th-year psychology undergraduate at the University of Peradeniya.
• 2022 - Thirty-five students arrested University of Kuliyapitiya over a ragging incident
• 2024-Seven Sabaragamuwa University students arrested over ragging
• 2025-Suicide of a student of Sabaragamuwa University reportedly due to ragging
• 2025-A Student who opposed ragging was assaulted by fellow students at Sri Jayawardenepura University 

When the country has the proper legislation in place, why appoint committees to bring attitudinal changes rather than enforcing it? The consequences of ragging are manifold. In fact, some individuals dislike universities, suffer lifelong trauma and end their university careers halfway through the course. The students who have the financial backing will go overseas, but what happens to the other students who cannot afford it? Aren’t we playing with our intelligent generation?

Hope the recent death of the Sabaragamuwa University student will not be another statistic to the above list!