August 03, Colombo (LNW): During a recent visit to the University of Vavuniya, Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya made it unequivocally clear that violent practices and abuse in higher education institutions—particularly ragging—will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Her remarks were delivered in the presence of academic staff, university administrators, and students, shortly after the official inauguration of the university’s newly built library facility.
Addressing those gathered, Dr Amarasuriya acknowledged the longstanding culture of student activism within Sri Lanka’s universities, and affirmed that the government has no intention of curbing political engagement, protests, or student-led movements.
However, she was firm in drawing a distinction between constructive activism and behaviour that endangers or intimidates others. “Violence, coercion, and hazing have no place in our universities,” she said. “Freedom of expression is a right—but harming others under the guise of tradition or politics is not.”
The Prime Minister also spoke candidly about broader challenges in the education sector. She highlighted the growing concern that a significant number of students entering university are not adequately prepared for tertiary-level study, citing gaps in the secondary education system as a root cause.
“Our universities are increasingly forced to compensate for the basic academic and social skills that students should have acquired at school. This is not sustainable and is unfair to both students and educators,” she remarked.
Emphasising the government’s commitment to comprehensive education reform, Dr Amarasuriya stressed the importance of equipping school-leavers with the skills necessary to either enter the workforce or pursue further education without requiring remedial intervention.
“We must ensure that no child leaves school unequipped for the next phase of life—whether that’s employment or higher learning,” she added.
