Defence Secretary takes up issue of ragging in universities

He said some of the unions forcibly take students for protests making the situation worse.

Acting Defence Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon addressing the same press conference said that one of the biggest problems faced by the authorities was that no complaints are made about ragging incidents.

Police spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that the lack of complaints was one of the main obstacles to the police in taking action regarding ragging cases.

The focus on ragging has been turned after an incident at the Peradeniya University where two groups clashed over an apparent ragging incident and authorities have closed down the Arts faculty indefinitely.

Meanwhile, Our Kandy Correspondent Shane Seneviratne adds that the University authorities themselves were carrying out an investigation into the incident which occurred at a canteen known as ‘Gemmba canteen’ on September 14.

Four students of the law faculty including two females were injured in the incident.

Students have described the clashes over the rivalry between Law students who are opposed to ragging and arts section who students who do not oppose ragging .

A long standing rivalry among the two student groups also have been attributed to the clashes.
However,  University authorities are in the process of carrying out a full investigation.

Meanwhile, State Minister Ragavan has been demanding that the Police should take action by making use of the Anti-ragging laws.