SRI LANKA: University ragging rages on despite law

Although it is a punishable offence under a 1998 law, 'ragging' incidents varying from verbal to sexual abuse are on the increase at higher education institutions in Sri Lanka, with some students even dropping out due to its serious nature, writes Nadia Fazlulhaq for The Sunday Times.

Janith [a pseudonym], obtained good results at the school-leaving examination and was among the fortunate to enter the arts faculty of Peradeniya University last October. But sadly, this fresher who resided at the Marcus Fernando Hall was admitted to Peradeniya Hospital with assault injuries and medical reports revealing that he had been sexually abused several times.

Sri Lanka introduced the Prohibition of Ragging and Other Forms of Violence in Educational Institutions Act No. 20 of 1998 with the aim of eliminating this sometimes brutal practice in universities. Ragging is defined as an act that "causes or is likely to cause physical or psychological injury or mental pain or fear to a student or a staff member".
Full report on The Sunday Times site