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Peradeniya Uni clash: Arts Faculty dons condemn actions to misuse just struggle against ragging to gain cheap political mileage

Published

4 years ago

2022/10/16

Peradeniya Arts Faculty teachers say that that they “recognize the inalienable right of students to engage in political activities and to work towards constructive social and systemic change. It is not our intention and not in the public’s interest to use incidents related to the rag… to undermine the people’s struggle of the past few months which is founded on the call for greater democracy in the country.”

A statement signed by Prof. Arjuna Parakrama, President Peradeniya Arts Faculty Teachers’ Association (PAFTA) says: “On September 14, 2022, a group of students studying law in the Faculty of Arts were assaulted while they were dining in the canteen and were subsequently prevented from entering the canteen premises. This is not an isolated incident. For years now, in the Faculty of Arts, a group identified as ‘Raggers’, through sheer force of might and intimidation, have denied students identified as ‘Anti-Raggers’ entry to public spaces of the university, including canteens. ‘Anti-Raggers’ were forced to find other inadequate spaces for their daily interaction and even to have their meals on campus. The violent and intolerant culture of the rag in the universities is such that Anti-Raggers are either prevented from residing in the halls of residence or hounded out of the halls of residence through other means.

“To return to the specific incident, on the 14th of September a group of students from the Department of Law, who could find no other place, decided to have their midday meal in one of the two main student canteens in the vicinity. This resulted in a faction of the ‘Rag Group’ to assault these students, and to later barring the Law students’ entry into the canteen. On hearing the commotion, the Dean of the Arts Faculty, along with other members of the staff, intervened at this point. The Dean called a meeting representing all factions, in order to resolve the matter amicably even at this stage. He also made it clear on that occasion that all public areas of the University commonly accessed by students, were open to all students, with no exceptions at all.However, promises made at this meeting were willfully broken within hours, resulting in further violence against these Law students.

“To end this spiraling cycle, the Dean, on the basis of the Faculty Board’s decision, asked for a written assurance on the part of the two affected student groups and the student union, the official representative body of the students, guaranteeing their commitment to free and open access to the canteens and other common facilities to all. Initially, in the interest of protecting the anti-rag group, on-site classes were converted to the online mode. However, after further discussion and clear intransigence on the part of the union and its allies who alone of the three groups refused to provide such a letter, it was decided that until such an assurance is made, all academic activities of the Faculty of Arts should be suspended as such activities cannot be conducted in an environment of violence and intimidation. To date, the Student Union has failed to provide such assurance.

Further, subsequent to the interventions made by the Dean, he became the target of threats and intimidation made by some students led by the Student Union. An effigy of him was burnt near the very canteen and he was publicly vilified at a much-publicised student union rally on the 15th September.

“Ragging has been the bane of the university system for decades. It is a violent, unjust, undemocratic, and inhuman practice. As PAFTA, we have zero tolerance for the rag and all related actions that perpetuate this practice. We are also particularly outraged at the intimidation and threats levelled at the Dean by members of the Student Union. We are committed to safeguarding the interests of all members of the university community, the safety and welfare of our members and the safety of all students and others in the university community; upholding that basic principle, we condemn these acts of intimidation unequivocally.

“As teachers in the higher education system we have always demonstrated a firm commitment to the functioning of the State University System. This system has nurtured all of us, and has contributed greatly to the welfare of this country, in the economic, administrative, political and cultural spheres. In condemning the undemocratic and violent practices of groups of students, we only wish to make the state system better, more democratic and be in greater service to the larger society. It is not, as has been implied elsewhere, particularly in media releases of the student union, that we are a part of a conspiracy to undermine the state university system. In condemning the rag and the violence of September 14 and 15, we can only improve the quality of education and the well-being of the university system.

“It has to be made crystal clear that we recognize the inalienable right of students to engage in political activities and to work towards constructive social and systemic change. It is not our intention and not in the public’s interest to use incidents related to the rag, including this incident in particular, to undermine the people’s struggle of the past few months which is founded on the call for greater democracy in the country. We condemn the actions of any group or political faction that seeks to misuse the just struggle against the rag to gain cheap political mileage and to undermine the greater democratic vision of the present political struggle against injustice.

“In sum, we condemn the practice of ragging and require all students to commit to a university environment in which everyone can learn with peace of mind; we condemn all practices of violence and repression, and stand by all those who are unjustly treated in any system. Specifically, we trust that the Student Union can assure us of their commitment to restoring normalcy and to a violence- free environment in the Faculty, so that we can resume the conduct of lectures as soon as possible.”

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Politics is not something separate from development. It shapes every choice we make in governance – PM

Published

2 hours ago

2026/05/20

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that politics is not something separate from development and it shapes every choice we make in governance, while addressing the 60th anniversary commemoration of the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex, Brighton. during her official visit to the United Kingdom.

The Prime Minister and the accompanying delegation arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport at 8.00 p.m. Sri Lanka time on Monday [18 May], commencing the official visit to the United Kingdom.

The delegation was warmly received at Heathrow Airport by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Nimal Senadheera, together with the Special Representative to the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom and former British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Richard Wildash, along with other diplomatic officials.

On the following morning, the Prime Minister arrived at the University of Sussex in Brighton, where she was received by Professor Anu Joshi, Director of the Institute of Development Studies, Professor Mick Moore, and senior representatives of the University of Sussex.

Addressing the public event, the Prime Minister reflected on the relationship between politics, governance, and development, drawing from Sri Lanka’s recent political and economic experiences. She emphasized the challenges of balancing governance, economic recovery, social protection, and institutional reform while responding to public expectations and maintaining democratic accountability.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the government’s ongoing policy focus on recognizing paid and unpaid care work as a central component of the national economy, particularly the contribution and challenges faced by women within the care sector.

During the visit, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya is also expected to address a session at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies at the University of Oxford, followed by an interactive discussion with scholars and students.

During the visit, the Prime Minister is also expected to meet senior representatives of the United Kingdom government, including Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, and Bridget Phillipson, the Secretary of State for Education of the United Kingdom. She is also expected to meet Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

Govt. committed to fulfilling aspirations of war heroes who liberated country: AKD

Published

10 hours ago

2026/05/20

Sahan Weerasooriya

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake paying floral tribute at the National War Memorial, Battaramulla, yesterday (19), to mark 17th anniversary of Sri Lanka's triumph over the LTTE. (pic courtesy PMD)

The government was committed to fulfilling the aspirations of war heroes who liberated the country, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday, addressing the 17th National War Heroes’ Commemoration Ceremony held in Battaramulla.

The members of the security forces had made a tremendous contribution towards bringing relief to the people and their sacrifices had to be honoured not only with remembrance but also through action to rebuild the nation, President Dissanayake said, stressing that everything possible had to be done to ensure that the people would not suffer due to conflicts again.

Praising the armed forces for the role they played in disaster response and national emergencies, the President said the government was working hard to strengthen the country’s international standing while ensuring the rule of law and judicial independence.

Sri Lanka belonged to all communities and there should be no division along ethnic lines.

President Dissanayake added that the government’s focus was to prevent the recurrence of conflict and to build a democratic society where equality before the law was guaranteed and all citizens had equal opportunity regardless of status.

News

H’tota elephant management reserve essential to halt ecological destruction and rising human-elephant conflict – Minister Patabendi

Published

11 hours ago

2026/05/20

Sahan Weerasooriya

Environment Minister Dhammika Patabendi yesterday sounded a strong warning over the rapid destruction of elephant habitats in the Hambantota region, declaring that the proposed Hambantota Elephant Management Reserve was no longer an option but an urgent national necessity to prevent a deepening environmental crisis.

Addressing a media briefing convened to create public awareness on the reserve, Dr. Patabendi said decades of political interference, illegal land grabs, deforestation and unplanned development had pushed Sri Lanka’s elephant population and rural communities into a dangerous confrontation.

“Sri Lanka is witnessing an environmental tragedy unfold before our eyes. Forests are shrinking, elephant corridors are being blocked, and wild elephants are being forced into villages and farmlands in search of food and water,” the Minister said.

He stressed that the Hambantota region had become one of the country’s most critical human-elephant conflict hotspots due to aggressive land conversion and irresponsible exploitation of natural ecosystems.

“The elephant is paying the price for human greed and shortsighted planning. If we continue to destroy forests in the name of development without ecological discipline, the consequences will be catastrophic not only for wildlife, but also for people,” he warned.

Dr. Patabendi said the proposed Elephant Management Reserve would serve as a scientifically managed buffer to protect vital elephant corridors, regulate land use, and reduce deadly encounters between elephants and humans.

He noted that Sri Lanka continued to record alarming numbers of elephant and human deaths annually, describing the situation as a “national environmental emergency.”

“Human-elephant conflict is no longer merely a wildlife issue. It is directly linked to food security, rural safety, water resources and ecological stability. The country cannot continue to address this crisis with temporary fences and political rhetoric,” he said.

The Minister also took aim at illegal encroachments and destructive activities within sensitive forest areas, warning that strict action would be taken against those responsible for environmental destruction.

“There are organised attempts to exploit forest lands for private interests while ignoring the irreversible damage caused to biodiversity and ecosystems. Such actions cannot be tolerated any longer,” he said.

Dr. Patabendi stressed that sustainable development could not be achieved at the expense of forests and wildlife, adding that environmental conservation must become a central pillar of national policy rather than an afterthought.

Environmentalists said Sri Lanka’s elephant population was increasingly under pressure due to shrinking habitats, fragmented migration routes and expanding human settlements.

The Minister called on politicians, state institutions and the public to support long-term conservation measures instead of promoting short-sighted solutions driven by vested interests.

“We have reached a decisive moment. Either we protect these ecosystems now or future generations will inherit a country stripped of its forests, wildlife and ecological security,” he warned.

The Environment Ministry is expected to initiate further scientific consultations and stakeholder discussions before moving ahead with the reserve’s implementation framework.

By Ifham Nizam