By Rihaab Mowlana

Daily Mirror ‘Life’ March 13, 2020

DEATH TOLL:

Chaminda Punchihewa, died 1993: Prasanga Niroshan died 1993: S. Varapragash died 1997: Kelum Thushara Wijetunge died 1997: Rupa Rathnaseeli paralyzed since 1975 & later died by suicide 2002: Samantha Vithanage died 2002: D.K. Nishantha died by suicide 2014: Amila Chathurika, died by suicide, 2015: Shanilka Dilshan died by suicide 2019: Pasindu Hirushan critically injured and now on life support 2020.

NOTE :: “As long as you do not address the flaws in the attitudes and mindset of the perpetrators, the cycle will repeat.” – Readers response.

Pasindu Hirushan was a bright-eyed fresher walking through the gates of the University of Sri Jayawardenapura, full of hopes and dreams about the future.

Today he is fighting for his life in hospital widely thought to be the result of ragging. Pasindu Hirushan is certainly not the first to face the dire consequences of ragging, neither will he be the last, until those in authority stir themselves and set in motion measures to improve the cruel mind-set of the raggers.

The Law

As a result of this incident, the university’s Student Union held a press conference refuting the allegations and citing (saying) it all as a result of an accident. The Mirihana police subsequently arrested five students of the Sri Jayawardenapura University including the main suspect, who had been taken into custody for throwing the tire that hit Hirushan on the head.

According to the Prohibition of Ragging and Other Forms of Violence in Educational Institutions, Act No. 20 of 1998, ragging is a distinct and punishable offence by law. If the ragging leads to sexual harassment or grievous hurt, it is a non-bailable offence and the punishment is increased to ten years imprisonment. Nevertheless, despite the arrests, just how many have been penalized for their hand in these crimes?

In addition, there is an act that protects the victims and witnesses of ragging: Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crimes and Witnesses Act, No4 of 2015.

The act is meant to provide help and protection to victims and witnesses of the crime, as well as offer assistance in getting compensation from the offenders and obtaining redress (restitution, rehabilitation, compensation, reparation.)

Severe Problem

A study by the UGC in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, UNICEF and other universities, entitled “Ragging, Sexual and Gender based Violence in the Sri Lankan University System” painted a bleak picture of the state of ragging in the country. The study recorded responses from 15,000 students and 1,550 staff members. The study found that a staggering 44 to 55% of students reported that they had been ragged, while 28% reported sexual or similar harassment.

The “Batch-Fit” Culture.

People who support ragging, paint a picture of light-hearted ragging meant to inculcate a culture of equality; a sort of icebreaker, an initiation to the student community. A fresher may be expected to sing a song, or dress in a certain way. Raggers argue it encourages ‘batch-fit’. They claim ragging can be stated as an activity ‘aimed at establishing a unique group identity and assimilation’ without legitimate operational function. But before long into the ragging the objectives seem to blur and ragging degenerates into a display of power dynamics, where its ring leaders descend to a crazed, self-serving power trip. Year after year, the bar is raised with senior raggers resorting to increased violence and sadistic sexual abuse of their victims. Even more appalling, some seniors rent “torture chambers” – private rooms for the purpose.

The Psychological Impact

“Ragging has been frequently associated with the broad spectrum of physical, behavioural, emotional and social problems among victims and is directly attributed to the increased risks of suicide and drop-outs among students attending Sri Lankan universities” stated Dr. N. Kumaranayake, Clinical Psychiatrist & Executive Director of Life Centre. Elaborating on the history of ragging in the country, he explained “Ragging is not an indigenous problem. It was not present in ancient Sri Lankan institutions. After World War II, a few soldiers who had served in the war enrolled at Sri Lankan universities and it was they who introduced this military type of ragging. Their aim was to build team spirit in the classroom. This was the unfortunate start of ragging in Sri Lanka. 

Dr. N. Kumaranayake repeated that pro-rag groups share similar sentiments, and claim that their goal is to establish a social equalizing mechanism “they say they don’t want any differences among students and want to create a common platform where everyone’s ideas are uniform and equal.”

“I don’t believe that,” he says. “I feel this is an expression of anti-social, sociopathic or narcissistic thinking in our leaders of the future. Each human being is unique and special, and can develop in extraordinary and unexpected ways. Therefore, you can’t expect any two members of a new batch to have equal thinking patterns. And members from Trinity, Ananda, Narlanda, St.Thomas’s, etc., seem not to be singled out for special attention. So, their reasoning for this excuse is not soundly based.  In truth, the raggers have wrong and harmful, base motives and ideas.”

“Ragging is not a mere a social problem, there is a psychological basis to the problem. Most senior students at first, say they do not wish to rag juniors, but then succumb to peer pressure. This is a herd mentality where students can be coerced by others in their group. Few students actually want to rag anyone, at first.” Dr. N. Kumaranayake says. Adding that when ragging starts it often veers off to the sadistic end of the spectrum, when raggers realize their power over their younger victims.  

“Sadism involves deriving pleasure from others who are undergoing pain and discomfort and this can also include emotional cruelty. When the opportunity arises, such sadistic personalities tend to display aggressive and cruel behaviour, due to personality defects such as antisocial (psychopathic) or narcissistic personality traits.  Narcissistic people for example, lack empathy (feelings of compassion, liking) for others, and think other people have to do and behave the way they want.”

Many Dysfunctional Families.

“In Sri Lanka, around 60% of families face domestic violence problems, and 30% of families have alcoholic abuse problems. A large number of children are ill-treated or worse, in the home. As a result, these children may develop various personality disorders. It is these unbalanced students who lead the ragging.

“Now, there is fear among students to go to university.  Many students, even though selected to enter, are reluctant to enter for fear of dangerous ragging.”  Dr. Kumaranayake quotes examples of clients he has seen in his practice. “I remember one student who was selected to enter the Peradeniya University Science Faculty, and attended a clinic with symptoms of headaches, poor sleep, poor appetite, was upset and refused to attend university classes.

This condition is diagnosed within psychiatry as General Anxiety Disorder. This is associated with “social fear.”

Another case involved a student of the University of Sri Jayawardenapura University. Doctor said that the student first attended clinic having ‘post traumatic stress’ symptoms after sexual harassment, as well as verbal and physical abuse. He had been told to remove his clothes, and so on.. Now, this youth re-lived these experiences by having memory “flashbacks” accompanied with poor sleep, depression, poor appetite and loss of motivation. As a result, he wanted to abandon his education.

I have seen large numbers of such unfortunate cases,” the Doctor said.

WHAT NEXT?
Ragging is largely touted as being an innocent, fun initiation ritual by pro-raggers.  It defies logic and common sense then, that any sane person could state that being sodomized by a broom handle, for example, will increase ‘batch fit’. Or having a candle inserted into a vagina could increase camaraderie. When it is personal, without tender, loving care, it becomes extremely unpleasant.

But these are the real-life experiences of university students in Sri Lanka. These are the stories that are now embedded in our collective psyche, then forgotten until the next case comes along. But, in fact, due to these unsavoury practices, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has revealed that as many as 2,000 students drop out every year. In order to give support to the victims, the UGC has established the Centre for Gender Equity, Equality, Sexual and Violence and Ragging within the UGC with a telephone hotline: 011-212-3700    

In order to reduce this woeful list of death and disability amongst our brightest and best, we need to enforce well planned and designed psychological programmes for new comers and offer psychology (good manners & behaviour!) as a subject for all university students,”  said Dr. Kumaranayake.

(Dr. Kumaranayake, is a Clinical Psychiatrist, & Executive Director of Life Centre.)

“The culprits must be punished severely with no leniency, as this is an unpleasant crime,” he said.

Addendum to original script:

The true, big unspoken problem is the state of the countries’ attitudes and morals. Around eight people are murdered every day, relentless, unceasing, day after day. The Buddhists are in the top five most murderous countries in the world. Also, around eleven people commit suicide every day. This happens when Buddhists rob, cheat, steal and break their word. We are seeing a society in decay. This is a massive problem as Sri Lanka is now the last main support for Theravada Buddhism, and is custodian of the last remains of the previously widespread Buddhist Culture of wisdom and harmlessness, bequeathed to us by countless generations, even from our wisest, most honourable, anti-diluvian predecessors.