30 Aug 2024 | By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Ragging in State universities is a serious issue in Sri Lanka that lawyer and economist Yasu-e Karunaratne Edussuriya and intern medical officer Dr. Taveesh Edussuriya are attempting to address through rage.lk. The husband-wife duo founded the organisation to share knowledge with others and provide pro bono legal support to those who have endured ragging and other forms of harassment.
Rage.lk recently released the short film ‘Ralla’, which shows how university students are affected by ragging and how the practice is allowed to continue by university staff. The film was directed and written by Yasu-e Karunaratne-Edussuriya, produced by Dhisal Kapuge and Dr. Taveesh Edussuriya, the former also credited as film editor and the latter as script editor.
The crew also includes Saalihah Mohideen (casting director), Chinthaka Jayakody (director of photography), Saleemah Mohideen (production manager), Thayyibah Mohideen (makeup and props manager), and Tami-e Karunaratne (backstage). The ‘Ralla’ cast comprises Udeshika Dissanayake, Dinul Senanayake, and Chiran Gunasekara.
While thanking the cast and crew for their efforts and contributions, Yasu-e Karunaratne-Edussuriya, in conversation with The Daily Morning, shared what led to establishing rage.lk, the services they offer, and how they plan on taking ‘Ralla’ forward.
Following are excerpts from the interview:
You founded Rage.lk with your husband. What led to establishing it?
When I was a university student, our batch went through a bad rag that lasted almost a year. A few of my friends dropped out, and even more didn’t join the faculty because of it. It was a tough time for me – I was juggling studying law and economics, dealing with the rag, and adjusting to life as a first-year student. I rebelled against the rag so many times, complained to authority figures, and watched as so many of my friends were physically, and at times, sexually, harassed.
I vividly remember the end of that year when we had the bucket ritual, where the raggers poured rotten garbage water on us. That was the moment I knew I had to do something about ragging. My husband, who was my boyfriend at the time, was always there to listen. He knew how much I wanted to take action. He’d gone through his own share of ragging at his university too.
Even when I became a senior, I kept complaining to the authorities, but nothing changed. After I graduated, I stayed in touch with lecturers who were against ragging, trying to help in any way I could. I knew I wanted to do something concrete and sustainable to fight ragging and harassment. When I joined the university as an assistant lecturer, there wasn’t any ragging because Covid-19 had disrupted the culture, but I still advocated against it and other forms of harassment.
After being a lecturer for over a year, I took oaths as a lawyer, and something clicked. I remember that moment during the ceremony, realising that as a lawyer, I had an even greater responsibility. I knew I could use my licence to create something better for students.
My husband and I decided to start a service offering pro bono support, not just against ragging but against all forms of harassment.
What kind of services do you offer?
We provide the following services:
- Pro bono legal aid for those who have experienced ragging, sexual harassment, cyber sexual gender-based violence, and police abuse
- Educational seminars at State universities and schools to educate students on their legal rights against ragging, bullying, and harassment
- Online resources and awareness campaigns through our Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube channels, where we share vital information about legal rights and point students toward the right contacts for help
How can legal support help students that have experienced ragging? What options do they have when taking action?
I’ve seen firsthand how devastating ragging can be for students. But I want students to know they’re not alone. There are options available to fight back.
Understanding your rights: The first step is knowing that ragging is not just a violation of university rules; it’s a criminal act under Sri Lankan law. The Prohibition of Ragging and Other Forms of Violence in Educational Institutions Act No. 20 of 1998 makes it clear that those who engage in ragging can face serious consequences, including imprisonment. Something we do in our seminars is breaking down the law into easy-to-digest components for students so they know their rights.
Taking legal action: If you’ve been subjected to ragging, or if you’ve witnessed it happening to someone else, you have the right to take legal action. The law allows you to press charges against those responsible, and depending on the severity of the incident, they could face up to 10 years in prison.
Contact us at Rage: Another important option for action is to reach out to us at Rage. We’re here to help you navigate these challenges. If you need legal aid, we will represent you pro bono, ensuring you have the legal support you need without worrying about costs. We’re committed to standing by you every step of the way.
Getting support and protection: Taking a stand can be daunting, especially if you fear retaliation. That’s why there are laws like the Assistance To And Protection of Victims Of Crime and Witnesses Act, No. 10 of 2023, which are there to protect you. This Act ensures that victims and witnesses of ragging can seek justice without fear, providing safeguards and support throughout the legal process.
However, I agree with the sentiment that while laws against ragging are strong, compliance is still lacking. Ensuring adherence to these laws falls heavily on university staff, who are the first point of contact for students. If they turn a blind eye to ragging, it becomes nearly impossible to combat the issue effectively.
How big an issue is ragging in Sri Lanka? How does it impact students, both mentally and physically?
Ragging is a national issue. Every year, over 2,000 students drop out of State universities because of ragging, which is a staggering figure (Source: Ministry of Education).
What’s even more alarming is that at least one student takes their own life each year due to the trauma caused by ragging (Source: Collection of newspaper articles, 2017-22, study conducted by Rage.lk). This isn’t just a statistic; it’s a tragic reminder of the real human cost of this practice.
The prevalence of ragging is widespread, with 59% of State university students experiencing some form of it, whether emotional, verbal, or physical. It’s a culture of fear and intimidation that leaves deep scars. Over half of these students – around 54% – end up suffering from long-term physical or mental health issues because of it (Source: Study conducted in 2022).
Yet, despite the severity of their experiences, only a small number of these students seek formal help. Most of them lean on family and friends for support, but that isn’t always enough.
Does ragging deter students from entering State universities? Are university students and staff as well as authorities making a big enough effort to put an end to ragging?
Ragging definitely deters students from entering State universities. From my own experience, I know of several students from my school and class who chose not to attend local universities, even after being selected, simply because they feared ragging. Their mindset was, ‘Why should I go through that?’ Instead, they explored other options, such as scholarships abroad, which is a significant brain drain for our country. Statistics show that around 2,000 students drop out of university each year because of ragging, and an even larger, unrecorded number never enrol in the first place.
Feedback from viewers of our film ‘Ralla’ echoed this sentiment. Many said they didn’t attend university because of ragging, and some mentioned that while they were fortunate enough to afford private universities, not everyone has that privilege. For those who come from rural areas, the transition is particularly challenging, as they often rely on the social mobility that State universities offer.
Free tertiary education in Sri Lanka is a rare gem in the world, yet this culture of ragging deters students from accessing it. The idea that ragging promotes equality is flawed and contributes to social discrimination by driving many students away from higher education.
Are university students, staff, and authorities making a big enough effort to end ragging?
Efforts to end ragging are being made, but they vary significantly across universities and faculties. There are many staff members who are firmly against ragging and advocate against it. However, in faculties where ragging persists, there’s often a divide among the staff – some are passive, and some even support it. Unfortunately, the voices that tolerate or support ragging can sometimes be stronger, leading to a complicated situation where political ideologies and career concerns overshadow the moral responsibility to protect students.
It’s not enough to simply tell first-year students to stand up against ragging. As a first-year student myself many years ago, I remember how overwhelming it was to transition from school to university. Lecturers urging students to fight against ragging, while well-intentioned, is often ineffective. Ragging is not a joke; it can lead to serious physical and mental harm, even death. The responsibility to end it should not fall on the most vulnerable – first-year students.
The power to eradicate ragging lies with the lecturers and university staff. Faculties that are free of ragging often have strong, united staff who are against the practice. Students, despite their courage, don’t have the same influence as lecturers. In my opinion, ending ragging is not complicated – it could be as simple as confiscating a student’s ID as a disciplinary measure. Yet, this basic action is often not taken, perhaps out of sympathy for the perpetrators or fear of backlash.
I believe there should be leadership training for both students and lecturers. Students need to understand that ragging is not acceptable and that their actions can have dire consequences for others. Lecturers, on the other hand, need to be empowered and educated on the importance of taking immediate, decisive action when they encounter ragging. This includes contacting authorities and enforcing disciplinary measures without hesitation.
While organisations like Rage.lk are here to support these efforts through seminars and education, the ultimate responsibility lies with the lecturers and university staff. They have the power to prevent students from losing their education, or even their lives, to ragging. It’s crucial that we make a bigger, more united effort to end this harmful practice.
Ragging is a topic that is discussed widely, and yet, the practice continues. Why do you think ragging in State universities is yet to be eradicated?
Ragging persists in state universities due to several factors, including the lack of unity between staff and students, and its political underpinnings. Ragging has become intertwined with political ideologies and university subcultures, making it more challenging to eradicate. Additionally, the belief that a little ragging is acceptable contributes to its persistence. Something I say in our anti-ragging seminars is, ‘No one has ever heard of a little bit of murder being okay, so how can a little bit of ragging be okay?’
However, even a small amount of ragging can lead to severe consequences, and there’s no clear line between what is considered acceptable and what is not. Universities must adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards ragging to truly eradicate it.
Have you reached out to State universities or student unions about screenings of ‘Ralla’?
We took the initiative to directly approach the State Minister of Higher Education Dr. Suren Raghavan. After our discussions and sending letters and emails, the minister expressed support for our organisation and mentioned that he would invite us to the next National Anti-Ragging Committee (NARC) meeting to discuss how the film can be screened across all universities in the country.
Additionally, we have been in touch with a few university faculties, and they’ve shown interest in screening ‘Ralla’ during their first-year orientation programmes. We are still in the early stages of collaboration, but our plan is to screen the film across all universities and to dub and subtitle it in Sinhala and Tamil as soon as possible. However, we need funding and resources to achieve this.
Leave a Reply