(UTV|COLOMBO) – Minister of Higher Education Bandula Gunawardana says two investigations have commenced into an incident of a tractor tyre being dropped on a first-year student of the Sri Jayawardenapura University.
The Minister in a statement to media said the Police and an internal investigation by the university administration is presently underway.
He said the government has proven in the past that according to government policy and outside the limitations of the country’s laws, interference in universities internal affairs will not be carried out.
The Minister said the support of all persons is required in order to bring an end to ragging at universities.
Minister Gunawardana called on religious leaders, student bodies and parents to prevent ragging, claiming the government will also ensure that if any incidents of ragging, harassment, physical or mental abuse were to occur, according to witness statements legal measures will be taken with the perpetrators punished.
He said the government intends to fulfil its responsibility to address incidents where students are being suppressed, threatened, or not being allowed to study in peace by any faction – be it students, teachers or even a government.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of the Sri Jayawardenapura University Prof. Sudantha Liyanage says the report compiled by the university was handed over to him last evening.
He said the Disciplinarian will take due action over the incident.
Meanwhile officers of the Mirihana Police have recorded statements from students at the university last evening.
The student of the Management Faculty is presently in the Intensive Care Unit of the Colombo National Hospital.
A spokesman of the hospital said the student underwent surgery due to internal bleeding.