Spine-chilling ragging continue to plague university system

Colombo, Dec.6 (Daily Mirror) - With another inhuman case of ragging reported from Sri Jayewardenepura University, Higher Education Minister Suren Raghavan said many cases of harassment of juniors by their seniors within the universities go unreported but the government will leave no stone unturned in its attempt to eradicate the menace.

Making his remarks in Parliament the other day, the Minister said the heads and facial hair of 15 students of Sri Jayewardenepura had been shaved with the same razor despite the health risk involved. He even likened it to a criminal act similar to murder since any infection caused by such common use of a razor can be fatal.

Despite attempts by successive governments and multiple pieces of legislation and regulations prohibiting ragging, the dehumanizing ordeals continue to ravage the university system, but freshers, in most cases, endure such sufferings without making any complaint fearing repercussions from their seniors during the remainder of their academic lives.

Asked for a comment on his latest revelation, Minister Raghavan said the government had initiated fresh approaches to invoke the available laws and regulations to curb the menace. He said the Vice Chancellors of all 17 universities would present their cases before the Supreme Court soon regarding the crisis.

“The universities are independent bodies. Their respective senates can decide on action,” he said.

The Minister said such inhuman acts borders on the infringement of fundamental rights of individuals, and therefore it was an offence punishable in terms of both local and international laws.

The higher education authorities have introduced a hotline to receive complaints.

Sri Lanka’s higher education sector is replete with spine-chilling stories about ragging, even resulting in deaths at times. In the guise of ragging, seniors even bar newcomers from wearing what they like. They are also faced with restrictions in wearing clothes of their choice. The politically motivated students’ organizations such as the Inter-University Students’ Federation even use ragging as a tool to brainwash students with their ideology.