11 students arrested for ragging

COLOMBO (News 1st) - 11 Senior Students of the Advanced Technological Institute in Veyangoda have been arrested for assaulting two freshmen of the same institute. A spokesperson for the police said the two freshmen had been assaulted as they opposed ragging. They were later admitted to the Gampaha Hospital for treatment. The arrested students were remanded until the 29th of August after been produced before the Attanagalla Magistrate's Courts. Speaking to reporters yesterday (August 17), Minister of Higher Education Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said the government will take strict action against ragging. He stressed 637 students refused to enter University for Higher Education during the academic year 2016/2017 in fear of ragging. The Minister noted legal action can be taken against individuals who engage in ragging. He also that those convicted could face a prison sentence of up to 10 years. The Chairman of the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka, Prof. Mohan de Silva said the UGC is operating a special complaints unit to deal with ragging. The Unit has so far received almost 417 complaints.