According to Minister Dissanayake, Sri Lankan universities have brought disrepute to the country over the years as a result of ‘dishonourable ragging’ and added that he would implement the delayed Act No: 20 of 1998 on university ragging with immediate effect.

“According to the university ragging act, six, seven or an eight year jail term would be the punishment for those who are found guilty. Unless this is firmly implemented, we would not be able to discipline university students. I have already given instructions to all the academic and non academic university staff on this matter and hope to get their support to put a stop to ragging,” Minister Dissanayake said.

Determined to crack the whip, the Minister added that students would only be allowed to stage protests in universities but warned them about boycotting lectures in future. “Unlike now all those who boycott lectures in future would be marked as absent and if their attendance is less than 80 percent at the end of each year, they would not be allowed to sit for exams,” Dissanayake said.(SL)