Dark reality of ragging in Sri Lankan universities

Thursday, 8 May 2025 03:32 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The hope with which students enter university must be protected, not betrayed

The recent tragic death of second-year student Charith Dilshan at Sabaragamuwa University, brought back memories of my own first term at university in Sri Lanka. What should have been a time of excitement was instead, overshadowed by a constant sense of fear, driven by the culture of ragging. I vividly recall how a group of us first-year students would arrive on campus together each day, believing that there was safety in numbers and that facing the threat of ragging as a group was less terrifying than facing it alone.

For thousands of Sri Lankan students, gaining admission to a State university is a moment of pride, years of hard work, and often, significant personal or family hardship. It should be the start of a new chapter filled with opportunity. Yet, for many, their hopes are quickly overshadowed by the brutal reality of ragging. Ragging in Sri Lankan universities has become a systematic form of psychological torment. Its consequences are far reaching, and many students drop out, or, in the worst case scenario, take their lives, as in the case of Charith Dilshan.

This incident has once again, reignited concerns about the enforcement of anti-ragging laws in Sri Lanka. Despite the existence of Sri Lanka’s Prohibition of Ragging and Other Forms of Violence in Educational Institutions Act, No. 20 of 1998, which criminalises ragging, the practice persists. Studies show that many victims suffer from anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Some never return to their studies.

This ongoing crisis reflects a larger systemic failure of enforcement, awareness, and institutional accountability. Universities have both a legal and moral obligation to safeguard students, yet many continue to turn a blind eye, allowing ragging to continue. Administrative responses are often slow, and complaints poorly handled. In many cases, the victims are left more vulnerable while perpetrators continue with impunity. The very institutions meant to empower young people instead become places of intimidation.

The solution must go beyond legislation. It requires cultural change. Universities must declare a zero-tolerance policy on ragging. They must establish safe and confidential channels for reporting, provide psychological support, and ensure that students are informed of their rights from the very beginning. Universities must foster a culture of respect, empathy, and inclusion. This is central to their role as institutions of learning and personal growth.

We also need to talk more openly about why ragging persists. Senior students must be educated on leadership and responsible mentoring while staff must be trained to intervene. And most importantly, we must listen to the voices of survivors and act.

Sri Lankan universities should be places where students grow into their full potential, not environments that strip them of their dignity. Too often, we respond to tragedies like this with a burst of outrage, only to discuss the issue and then allow it to fade away without meaningful action. We need to protect and support our students now.

(The writer was a Professor of Finance and the Head of the Discipline of Accounting and Finance at James Cook University.)

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Dark reality of ragging in Sri Lankan universities

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