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Reports of ragging: Ministry says one thing, University another
Contradictory statements by the Higher Education Ministry and Sabaragamuwa University authorities over alleged ragging incidents at the university have once again brought up the issue that plagues our university system. The Higher Education Ministry had requested the Sabaragamuwa University’s Vice Chancellor to conduct an inquiry following complaints to the Ministry both by new entrants to the university and their parents.The Ministry’s Student Affairs Director K. Mawella told the Sunday Times they had received complaints of a shocking nature, including male students being forced to strip and walk outside and made to crawl naked in the toilets.
“Both parents and students called us and informed us about unnatural and embarrassing ragging incidents. There were also several reports of severe verbal abuse. We received reports from male students but are unaware of what kind of painful ragging female students may have undergone,” he said.
However, the university’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Mahinda Rupasinghe said over a week had passed since the inquiry had begun but such severe incidents of ragging had not come to light.
“I have instructed the senior student counsellor to immediately look into the complaints received by the Higher Education Ministry. There have been verbal abuse and prohibiting freshers entering the university library and not being allowed to wear the clothes of their choice. The university will not hesitate to take action against those involved in ragging,” he said.
Last year too there were several reports of grievous harm due to ragging. A first year female student of Ruhuna University was hospitalised after aggravating an earlier spinal injury on the impact of a fall when about 300 students were crammed into the canteen.
In another incident, a first year male student from Peradeniya University was hospitalised with severe injuries caused by assault and unnatural sexual abuse. Under the ‘Prohibition of Ragging and other forms of Violence in Educational Institutions Act No. 20 of 1998’, ragging is defined as an act that causes or is likely to cause physical injury or mental pain or fear to a student or a staff member.
Ragging commonly known as ‘navaka vadhaya’ in Sinhala, is a punishable offence under this act and any individual found guilty could be subjected to two years rigorous imprisonment or ten years if the ragging involved sexual harassment or grievous hurt. If found guilty, students could face expulsion as well. A court could also award compensation to the victim.
Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratna said that university administrators should not tolerate any form of ragging and see that maximum punishment was given to the perpetrators.