12 Colombo University students arrested for ragging

Colombo (News 1st): 12 students suspected to have been involved in a clash that broke out at the University of Colombo have been arrested. The clash broke out while the enrolment of new students was taking place. The clash had broken out at the cafeteria of the University over an incident of ragging on the 8th of this month. 2nd-year students at the university had inhumanely ragged the first-year students during the past few days at the university premises and at a student's hostel located in Borella. Eyewitnesses of the incident said that a third-year student who opposed this ragging had been assaulted the day before yesterday (January 8). The victim of the assault suffered severe injuries to his ear and continues to receive treatment at the Colombo National Hospital. A complaint was lodged at the Cinnamon Garden's police station and a group of students was summoned to the police station this afternoon (January 10). The Vice-Chancellor of the University Professor Chandrika N. Wijeyarathne said that 12 students have been arrested in connection to the incident. The Senior Lecturer of the Political and International Relations at the Open University Athulasiri Samarakoon noted that any action taken by the government to stop ragging at state universities can be considered as a justified course of action. He said they had continued to warn the students that such a situation would arise. He added that ragging is used within universities as a means to achieve certain political goals. He stressed that it is not the only way that students' politics can be organized. He noted that ragging depicts the level to which leftist political parties in the country have fallen to, therefore the so-called leftist parties should step up to stop ragging. He said they should force their students' circles to stop ragging. Against a backdrop where students who enrolled at the universities for the academic year 2019/2020, a father of a student who was selected to enter University this year spoke to News1st.

"I am a parent who is saddened and concerned regarding the security of my child. These innocent children entered university after suffering a lot. Against such a backdrop where we speak about national security and the security of the general public, I believe the authorities of the Universities should act more diligently to ensure the safety of the most talented students in the country who enter state university. Also, I request the president to focus his attention on this matter and work towards eliminating ragging at universities."

This issue has captured the attention of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Addressing the national conference of the youth front of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna the President noted that 2000 students who pass their advanced level examination do not enter state university. He noted that they cannot let this happen, therefore, they need to think about these matters. The President said they need to change this system at least now as they have a good plan for the youth of Sri Lanka. He stressed that they will work towards achieving that.