Call for independent probe as student’s death at Sabaragamuwa University sparks outrage

Date:

May 02, Colombo (LNW): The sudden and tragic death of a young undergraduate at the University of Sabaragamuwa has ignited a wave of concern and condemnation, with academic unions, student bodies, and government authorities calling for a full and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The deceased, a 23-year-old student enrolled in the Department of Engineering Technology, was discovered having taken his own life under deeply troubling circumstances.

The case has sparked widespread suspicion that the suicide may be linked to a suspected ragging incident—a practice long condemned but still reportedly prevalent in some corners of the university system.

The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA), voicing its dismay over the incident, issued a strongly worded statement urging an independent inquiry, stressing the need for absolute transparency and credibility in the investigative process.

According to FUTA Secretary and Senior Lecturer Charudatta Ilangasinghe, the death, believed to be associated with peer abuse or intimidation, must be thoroughly examined without institutional bias or delay.

He warned that academic institutions risk becoming complicit in a culture of silence unless proactive measures are taken to address violence disguised as tradition.

Further raising the alarm, a fellow student has formally filed a complaint at the Samanalawewa Police Station, suggesting that the deceased may have been driven to suicide by prolonged psychological and possibly physical torment under the guise of ragging.

This allegation has intensified public scrutiny and reinforced longstanding concerns about the failure to root out toxic initiation rituals from campuses across the country.

In response to the growing pressure, the Ministry responsible for higher education issued a statement confirming that a formal Board of Inquiry has been appointed to examine the incident.

Officials pledged that if evidence confirms that ragging played a role in the student’s death, those found responsible—whether directly or through negligence—would face the full weight of legal consequences.

The University Management and the University Grants Commission are reportedly awaiting the findings of this inquiry to determine further disciplinary or legal action.

This tragedy is the latest in a series of similar incidents over the years that have shaken confidence in the safety and ethical standards of Sri Lanka’s university system.

Whilst several institutions have instituted codes of conduct and zero-tolerance policies against ragging, implementation remains inconsistent, and many cases are thought to go unreported due to fear of retaliation or institutional inaction.

Human rights advocates and mental health professionals have also weighed in, pointing to the urgent need for reform. They stress that the emotional wellbeing of students cannot be treated as an afterthought, and that universities must create environments where abuse is neither tolerated nor obscured by administrative red tape or misplaced loyalty to campus hierarchies.

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