Educationists, university legal officers and the Varapragash family were among those calling on the govt. to act firmly and swiftly in dealing with a crisis that has plagued the universities for some four decades.
Often in the past, acts of brutal ragging have been highlighted
in the press. For a few days or weeks there was public pressure
for some remedial action. But it was soon forgotten, like so many
other things. Radical students thwarted any efforts to curb 
ragging
by bringing pressure on the authorities and the govt.
This time, with Varapragash's death indicating criminal or malicious motives, many educationists feel the govt. would get wide public support if it brings in legislation now to ban ragging.
A day after the funeral of Selvanayagam Varapragash, his father Dr Pragasam returning home having just collected his son's ashes, vowed he would do everything possible to bring about a ban on ragging. Varapragash, 21, an engineering faculty student of the Peradeniya university died last Sunday following complications from injuries sustained during ragging.
His ashes were to be taken to the Mutwal beach on Friday to be scattered according to Hindu custom, followed by a religious ceremony. Dr Pragasam said that the family strongly believed that Vara was born to achieve something important even at the cost of his life, and called for a legal ban on ragging in universities.
"This will be the reward for his sacrifice. We firmly believe if it is done, Vara's soul will rest and even we will find it easier to come to terms with the loss," said Dr. Pragasam.
While the nation reacted with sorrow and anger on the needless death of the bright young engineering student, the incident brought pressure on the authorities to ban or control the inhuman ragging, which the dead student's family had described as torture.
The Vice Chancellor of the Peradeniya University Prof. Leslie Gunawardene on Thursday announced that the Council of the University had at an emergency meeting resolved that strict disciplinary action should be taken with regard to this incident of harassment and torture. "Ragging should be declared prohibited and subject to severe punishment. The Council also decided to set up a committee to determine which of the cases brought to their notice should be referred to the Police in order to facilitate parallel processes of inquiry within the University as well as under the laws of the land."
Cases of savage ragging in universities have intermittently been highlighted, but the enormity of last week's tragedy has prompted soul searching among many sections of society.
The details in the Varapragash case have been well publicised in the week following his death. He was ragged on October 6 a few miles away from the Peradeniya campus by a group of seven Engineering faculty seniors who forced him to do 500 sit ups, despite his vehement protests. Having collapsed during the ordeal he was revived and forced to continue and finally taken back to his boarding house. The next day Varapragasam was passing blood and his father informed by his roommate, brought him immediately to Colombo. For two weeks he was treated at the ICU of a private hospital for kidney failure, but passed away last Sunday at 11.55 p.m after lung failure. At the time of writing six of the students had been arrested.
Recalling the last few days of his life, his brother Deva said Vara had been unconscious for a week before his death. "On Monday he did show signs of improvement but it lasted only for two days, By Thursday he was sinking and on Saturday the hospital called us around 11.30 saying his condition was critical. The family was with him when he passed away," he said.
Deva recalls he had asked his brother why he did not object to doing 500 sit ups. Vara's answer had been that he feared that he would have been killed if he refused. Varapragash, who had entered university from St John's College, Jaffna, had also been preparing for his final exams in management accountancy (CIMA).
The Pragasam family have called on the government to bring in legislation to ban ragging in universities. The family in a letter to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga soon after the incident took place requested the government to take all possible action. However following his son's death, Dr. Pragasam has asked for an appointment with the president to urge the government to bring in a total ban.
In a new twist of events the family spoke out about the investigation carried out by the Peradeniya police and university officials claiming that prompt action in this matter had not been taken. Dr.Pragasam in a strongly worded letter to the IGP claims that the police did not carry out their duty. "There are a lot of loopholes in the investigations. We are not satisfied with the manner it was done. It was two days before my son died that the police arrested the suspects, by then the main culprit had got away. The police claim that the suspect's father had said he will hand over the boy as he had gone to the market, then they say he had gone to Nuwara Eliya. This sounds vague. It is only after a lecturer had intervened that the police arrested the six seniors. What were they doing all that while? We could not be behind them urging them to take action. It is their responsibility and duty to act according to the law," Dr.Pragasam said.
kandy ASP, Rajapaksesaid that although the incident took place on October 6 the family lodged the complaint only on October 14. "We could not arrest any student because it would cause problems. We had to first carry out the investigations. It is because of this we delayed in arresting the accused. We are going ahead with the investigation," he said.
Neither university officials or family members, perhaps expected the incident to take such a tragic turn. Vara himself had urged his father not to pursue the matter saying that the seniors would be suspended and it would cause a delay in their education. "After he identified the six suspects he told us not to take up the matter because it would affect them. Little did he know how it would affect him and all his loved ones," said Dr.Pragasam.
It is sad to note that one had to pay such a price to highlight the gravity of the sadistic and inhuman ragging that continues in universities, but never has the need been more intense for the authorities to take a firm stand on ragging.
Professor N. Chandrasiri Past Vice Chancellor of the Ruhunu University
where ragging took place on a large scale was critical 
about
the issue and called upon the government to take the initiative
in enacting legislation. "This is a serious problem. The
government has the power and authority to even bring in a special
law.There was a time at Ruhunu where ragging took place in a large
way but we were unable to put a stop to it for the simple reason
that no student came forward to give evidence through fear of
the consequences But things have changed now. After this incident
the officials should take immediate action," he said.
Prof. Chandrasiri blamed the Student Unions who in his view are not carrying out their duty. "Their attitudes on such issues are disgusting. They forget about their responsibility but crave for their rights," he said.
Acting Vice Chancellor of the Moratuwa University Professor Ratnayake said that within the last ten years whenever seniors have been suspended due to ragging, the student Unions would stage a strike and the government to ease the situation would order the officials to lift the suspension. "Finally we look like fools. So after this incident the need for implementing a strict law is very much needed," he said.
Prof. Ratnayake explained that ragging at the Moratuwa University has decreased tremendously largely due to the Anti Ragging Group formed by the University, which consists of Staff members and students including Student Unions. "This Body was formed three years ago and has been successful. We also have informal discussions with students which is important, Since there are students involved in the Anti Ragging Group they visit chummeries and whenever they get to know that ragging is taking place, they inform us and we take necessary action. There is a kind of unofficial ban on campus," he said.
Commenting further on the Peradeniya incident Professor Ratnayake said that since it is a police case the culprits should be severely dealt with. "There should be an impartial inquiry without political or other interference. Let this incident be an eye opener for the authorities to draw up measures to ban ragging."
While many academics called for the Government to take an initiative in this regard, Professor P Laxman of the Colombo University said each undergraduate should understand the gravity of ragging and the fundamental rights of each student. "It is then that a total ban can be achieved. There should be awareness among students. It is difficult for University authorities to keep a close watch on students twenty four hours. Thus if each student knows the consequences, it follows there would be no ragging. If a law is to be initiated it will come under the criminal law, which will involve the police but this does not work this way," he said.
Professor Laxman said the Law Faculty at their meeting on Wednesday had passed a resolution to bring in strict rules in ragging and to request authorities to take a positive stand on this issue.
University Grants Commission Chairman Professor S Tilakaratne
said that in the next few weeks there would be a drastic change
in this regard. "We will hold discussions with all VC's including
ministry officials. The need for action in this regard is 
evident.
Ragging is an offence under University law," he said.
Professor S Pathmanathan, Vice Chairman of the University Grants Commission said that one could not blame a particular group for such acts, as ragging has been a problem dating back some forty years. "At present the standard of university education has deteriorated. Many have the tendency to position themselves with authority and power not taking to consideration the responsibility vested on them. The UGC can only co-operate, we cannot implement a law. I also feel the media should carry out a campaign in this regard. If other countries have brought about legislation, like in Tamil Nadu, we too should put a stop to ragging," he said.
A commission appointed by President Chandrika Kumaratunge on ragging had handed in their report over two months ago. The report examines in detail the repercussions of ragging and it is timely that its recommendations should be considered.
According to the UGC legal officer Mrs. H Wickremasinghe if the govt. is to introduce a law to ban ragging, a thorough study should be done taking to consideration all aspects. "Ragging could be introduced to criminal law. It requires a lot of study and research and should be done in consultation with the AG's Department, the Justice Ministry and other officials. Discussions are underway in this regard," she said.
Many questions have been raised on the role Student Unions play in ragging. While some academics claimed that they too are responsible for encouraging ragging some others protested that they had helped to curb the problem. On Wednesday, while Varapragasam was laid to rest, University students staged a picketing campaign protesting against inhuman ragging. Posters came up at the Colombo University walls condemning the act. For many passersby this was seen as ironic.
Vara's brother too said that instead of carrying out a picketing campaign, what they could do was form a committee and see that ragging is banned. "The seniors should take the initiative and also the government should draw up legislation. It will take sometime but at least we know there is something happening," he said.
On the day of the funeral the Vice Chancellor of the Peradeniya University announced they would implement a Varapragasam Week, annually, to highlight the dire consequences of ragging. "We just hope that all universities adopt this so that it will be something which will live on.We also hope the media highlights this issue constantly. It is true that it was a sensational story but it should not stop at this point" he said. Not only the media, but the University officials and students owe it to the country to prevent such an atrocity from ever taking place.
Twenty one year old Arunan, a batchmate of Vara, who had been ragged thrice said the campus has turned into a torture camp. "I was asked to do 100 sit-ups. It was bad enough, I just can't imagine how Vara did 500. I personally feel that a legal ban should be brought to all universities," he said.
Arunan who had known Vara from his school days said that the seniors would have done this out of pure jealously. "There is no other reason. He was such a nice guy. In fact even when I visited him in hospital he said it was not serious and he was looking forward to finishing his CIMA finals on November 10."
Devika Nanayakara, a first year student at the Colombo University said the need has come for relevant officials to take immediate action."It is sad that such a thing had to happen to bring this issue into focus. Still let it not only be an eye opener but also a means for the Government to bring a legal ban on ragging,"she said.
Another final year student however added that ragging has been somewhat subdued and it is done only by a section of the students. "One cannot blame the Student Unions entirely. Like in any place you get the good and the bad," he said.
Many parents The Sunday Times spoke to expressed their shock and urged the authorities to take stern action against the culprits. They called for an impartial investigation.
When comparing the kind of ragging which took place thirty to forty years ago one wonders what prompts the sadistic slant that ragging seems to manifest today.
Mr.P Nonis who entered the Peradeniya University in 1956 said that in those days the rag was mere innocent fun. "Now it is not a rag which takes place, it is an orgy. In fact as freshers, we were nervous but the only thing we were asked to do was go to the seniors' rooms in the nights and sing or perform an act. It was innocent fun. For about ten days all of us were asked to attend lectures in full suit. We did look like jokers but it was fun," he said.
Mrs. Karuna de Silva, another Peradeniya graduate [1964-1967] said they had enjoyed the rag. "It was nothing serious. We either had to give a flower or say "I love you" to a senior. The seniors would also pose as lecturers and we would very innocently take down notes," she said.
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