Sunday Times E-Paper

Peradeniya canteen where violence raged, no more any one clan’s turf

Acanteen at the University of Peradeniya where some students are said to have faced physical violence and verbal abuse, must be accessible to all, administrators have decided.

This follows a meeting between teachers and students.

The dining facility of the faculty of arts where a recent bout of violence took palce, is popularly known as the ‘ gemba’ canteen.

On September 14, around 3.30p.m, a group of law department students, had been forbidden by arts undergrads from entering the canteen, trigging violence. Three students were suspended and later arrested by police.

The proctor of the university, Prof. Thilaka Wijetunga Bandara, said alleged offenders can be issued with a written warning, imposed a two-week or a four-week punishment, or even be expelled.

“All students should be able to go to any canteens, or even milk bars, given this economic crisis,’’ he said.

According to him, only a few students in one or two groups are involved in ragging. About 1,000 have joined anti-ragging groups.

However, Prof Bandara said lecturers do not support any student groups, saying, “regardless of ragging and anti-ragging, we support zero-ragging”.

“The University of Peradeniya is a beautiful university, which is being labelled as a bad university because of the actions of a few students,’’ he said.

Prof. Shyama Banneheka, president of the Federation of University Teachers Association, said, “we do not entertain raggers or anti-raggers”.

“Students should have all rights and the freedom to hold one’s own opinions, while the university does not accept ragging,’’ he said.

Prof. Banneheka added that in the period after the coronavirus disease pandemic, the incidence of ragging has reduced because the level of personal contact is less.

The Inter University Students Federation, said in a statement on September 26, “that universities should be free of such incidents’’ and “ragging should not exist within the university culture”. Convener Mr Terence Rodrigo, suggested that there are those who focus on such incidents to create a generally bad impression of students, to further their own political gains, which require the elimination of student movements from universities.

The police media spokesman, Nihal

Thalduwa said the students were allowed bail and handed over to the Reconciliation Board, which is yet to announce its decision.

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2022-10-02T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-10-02T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://sundaytimes.pressreader.com/article/281913071995125

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