May 16, Colombo (LNW): Ten undergraduates from the University of Sabaragamuwa remain in remand custody following their arrest in connection with the tragic suicide of fellow student Charith Dilshan, allegedly driven by a prolonged episode of ragging.
The Balangoda Magistrate’s Court ordered today (16) that the suspects be further remanded until May 29, pending continued investigations.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and reignited national concern over the persistence of ragging in Sri Lankan universities—an issue that has claimed lives and disrupted countless academic careers over the years.
Dilshan, a 23-year-old second-year student enrolled in the Department of Engineering Technology, was found dead on April 29. Preliminary findings suggest that he died by suicide after enduring sustained mental harassment.
A formal complaint was lodged with the Samanalawewa Police Station on May 01 by a fellow student, alleging that the mental distress Dilshan suffered was directly linked to ragging. The complaint has been bolstered by statements from 20 other students who also testified to having faced similar treatment at the hands of senior students.
In response to the gravity of the allegations and the public outcry that followed, the Acting Inspector General of Police transferred the case to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on May 03, instructing them to ensure a comprehensive and impartial probe.
Six of the accused were arrested on May 04 based on preliminary evidence unearthed during the CID’s initial investigation. The remaining four suspects subsequently surrendered to the Samanalawewa Police.
The arrests mark one of the more serious legal responses to university ragging in recent years, with prosecutors expected to examine potential charges under both criminal and anti-ragging statutes.
Despite years of public debate, legislative amendments, and awareness campaigns, ragging continues to thrive in some state university settings—often concealed by a culture of silence and complicity.
Student unions and rights organisations have called for swift justice and institutional reform in the wake of Dilshan’s death, urging authorities to address the systemic failures that allow ragging to persist under the guise of tradition and group bonding.
Meanwhile, the University of Sabaragamuwa has reportedly launched its own internal review of student welfare and disciplinary procedures, though critics argue that such measures have historically lacked consistency or teeth.
