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Peradeniya University Arts Faculty academic activities at a standstill

05 Oct 2022

  • Uni admin seeks Student Union’s assurance against ragging, union unprepared to comply
  • Arts Faculty Dean calls for legal action against Student Union leaders
BY Buddhika Samaraweera   An uncertain situation has arisen regarding the resumption of academic activities at the University of Peradeniya Faculty of Arts, with the university administration deciding not to resume its academic activities until the Peradeniya University Students' Union submits a written assurance that the students will not engage in any form of ragging, and will allow students against the rag to use all facilities of the university without any discrimination, and the union not being prepared to submit such an assurance. Speaking to The Morning, Peradeniya University Arts Faculty Dean Dr. Prabhath Ekanayake said that a group of politically motivated students who are pro-ragging are attempting to disrupt the right of anti-ragging students to engage in academic activities, and to use common facilities such as canteens within the university premises. To prevent such incidents, he said that action must be taken against those who carry out ragging on students under the Prohibition of Ragging and Other Forms of Violence in Educational Institutions Act, No. 20 of 1998. “Recently, a group of pro-ragging students had attacked another group of anti-ragging students who were having their meals in a canteen. It is the students' union leaders who are behind all these incidents. They are extremely arrogant, and are not willing to respect or obey the university administration and the staff. That is why the Arts Faculty Board and teachers unanimously decided not to carry out any academic activity until the student unions give us a written assurance that pro-ragging students will not assault anti-ragging students, and will allow every student to use the common facilities,” he said. Speaking further, Dr. Ekanayake claimed that the Peradeniya University Students’ Union President had, following the said attack on a group of students by pro-ragging students, threatened him, saying: “It is very simple for us to send you (Dr. Ekanayake) home, since we have even sent the seventh Executive President home.”  He further said that the union had also pasted posters on the walls of the University buildings that read “Go Home Dean”, and set an effigy of him on fire. “We have zero tolerance for any form of ragging. Our intention is to eliminate ragging from the education system, or from the university at the very least. I have the courage to do that, but I need the support from the authorities such as the State Ministry of Higher Education, the University Grants Commission (UGC), and the University Vice Chancellor (VC). In a short period, the students will come together and threaten the VC, the Senate, and the staff. If that comes to pass, we all should be united in making decisions. That is the only way that we will be able to eliminate ragging,” he added. Dr. Ekanayake also said that a total of 11 students have been suspended as of yesterday (4), over the incident of a group of anti-ragging students being attacked in a canteen by a group of pro-ragging students on 14 September. Noting that he, as the Dean of the Faculty, is currently being supported enough by the authorities to take action against those who engage in ragging, he said that no matter how long it takes for the union to provide the requested assurance sought, academic activities will not resume until an assurance to the above effect is given in writing. However, when contacted by The Morning, Peradeniya University Students’ Union President Anuradha Vidanage said that there are no incidents of ragging taking place at the university, and that it is not practical for the union to provide assurances as required by the university administration. He further denied the Dean’s statement that the latter was threatened by him (Vidanage) following the incident on 14 September. “As the Students’ Union, we should work for all the students. As the Dean claims, the incident on 14 September is not something that is related to ragging. It took place after a group of students who were waiting to buy food from the canteen had skipped the queue. After that, the Students’ Union intervened and brought both the parties to an agreement that they would not clash again.  “However, it is not fair for the university to ask us to give a written assurance that there will be no such clashes again. There are clashes between certain groups everywhere in society. So how can we assure that the students will not have any conflict?” he queried. After the said assault on a group of students, the university had decided to carry out academic activities online, thereby giving time to the Students’ Union to provide written assurance that there would be no assaults on students who do not get involved in ragging, and that they would also allow every student, be they pro-ragging or anti-ragging, to use the common areas of the university premises. However, online teaching has also come to an end, as the Students' Union is yet to submit such an assurance.


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