Ragging and loss of life

Recently another life of an undergraduate was lost due to barbaric ragging at the Sabaragamuwa University.

- BY PROFESSOR O. A. ILEPERUMA, EMERITUS PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA

This is not the first time this happened at this University and sometime back a girl committed suicide due to inhumane ragging. It is pertinent to examine some of the factors as to why this sort of inhumane ragging goes on unabated in the universities. The most important factor as to why ragging cannot be stopped falls on the university administration. Vice Chancellors are mortally scared of these violent student groups backed by their unions to take punitive action against the perpetrators of this violence. This may be because they want to paint a picture of a peaceful atmosphere in the universities to their political masters who appointed them in the first place. These vice Chancellors are also aware of instances where strong action taken against ragging by Vice Chancellors in the past resulted in their removal such as Prof. Epitawatte at Sri Jayewardenepura and Prof, Sujeewa Amarasena at the Ruhuna University. They desist from taking action with the students because of the fear that the students will organise protests and even resort to physical violence against them. Academic staff members also turn a blind ey