‘Uni authorities should be held accountable’

Alleging that negligence on the part of relevant universities had led to some of the recent incidents of ragging, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has demanded tough action against those who are responsible for them.

The BASL has also found fault with successive governments for their failure to properly and adequately implement the relevant laws that were available to deal with ragging.

BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya and its Secretary Chathura A. Galhena, on Monday issued a strongly worded statement after the Balangoda Magistrate remanded four third year students over the suicide of a student named Charith Dilshan allegedly due to ragging. Police reported that the 23-year-old student committed suicide on April 28 at his home in Gampola following ragging during Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations at the Sabaragamuwa University.

Subsequently, police arrested six more students, also of the Department of Engineering Technology of the same University. They, too, had been remanded till May 16 pending further invfestigations. Police said that since the CID intervened, altogether 10 students had been arrested and four of them were remanded on Monday (5) till May 16 .

Declaring that Dilshan had been subjected to inhuman and brutal ragging, the BASL emphasised that any form of ragging, bullying or violence, directed at any student at any educational institution, should be strongly condemned.

The BASL said: “It is also the belief of the BASL that some of the recent incidents of ragging have been caused due to the dereliction of duty on the part of the relevant institution, and these authorities must be held accountable for the same.

The BASL is deeply concerned on the inadequate implementation of the provisions of the `Prohibition of Ragging and Other Forms of Violence in Educational Institutions Act No. 20 of 1998′, by Law Enforcement Authorities, against perpetrators of ragging and violence in these Institutions. The BASL is also mindful of the applicability of the provisions of the ‘Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Act No. 22 of 1994’ and the relevant provisions of the Penal Code.

The BASL urges all responsible authorities in Universities and other High Educational Institutions to take necessary preemptive action and incorporate a zero-tolerance policy on unlawful ragging.

The BASL will closely monitor the case filed by the Samanalawewa Police in the Magistrate’s Court of Balangoda and urges the authorities to take all necessary legal measures to ensure the rule of law and the due enforcement of the law. The BASL is also considering seeking intervention of the Courts of Law to ensure better implementation and enforcement of the applicable Law.”

Meanwhile Sabaragamuwa VC M. Sunil Shantha has appointed a committee consisting of Senior Prof. A.A.Y. Amarasinghe (Chairman) Prof. Kapila Rathnayaka and Attorney-at-Law Y.S. Chandrasekara to investigate the incident.