Ragging – My Experience
I am concerned by your two recent reports, “S.Thomas’ College Prefects Assault Fellow Thomian” (The Sunday Leader February 20, 2011), and “Nine Thomians Assaulted By Senior Prefects” (a week later). Your first report stated that Neomal Wickremasekera, a College cricketer, was slapped at least 25 times and bodily assaulted, in addition to being subjected to humiliating ‘acts’ where he suffered serious bruising. It has been reported, that 17 Senior Prefects, including the Head Prefect, Vinura Laduwahetty, were asked to leave the school by the Warden Rev. John Charles Puddefoot. From the distance of Australia, I can only hope that this is correct, although the action taken is not what is needed in criminal assault.
A criminal act. A legal perspective
Main entrance of S.Thomas’ College
So-called ‘ragging’ in Sri Lanka, is criminal assault, and must be dealt with as such. I do not wish to go into the law in detail, but I must point out the illegality of what is being done – an act which causes physical or mental harm. Just because the perpetrators are students, they cannot rise above the law. It is dangerous for the country and its citizens if they do.
‘Ragging’, such as this which occurs in Sri Lanka, is a violation of a basic human right protected by the Constitution of Sri Lanka, the supreme law of the country. Any citizen can petition the Supreme Court in terms of Article 126 of the Constitution in case of a human right violation. The Constitution highlights ruthless, brutal or contemptuous treatment to any party by another as a violation of human rights.
Article 126 refers to filing action in the Supreme Court for human rights violations. The Article that also gets transgressed is Article 10 (and others) dealing with fundamental rights.
These Constitutional constraints are equally applicable to those in schools, universities, or elsewhere, irrespective of age. Any civil or criminal offence executed by them are liable to be punished and shall be produced before the relevant court and subject to suitable punishment after a trial and conviction.
It is also a contravention of a specific Act on ragging, passed by the Sri Lanka Parliament, Prohibition of Ragging and Other Forms of Violence in Educational Institutions Act, No. 20 of 1998. The detailed heading specifies that it is an Act to eliminate ragging and other forms of violent and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment from educational institutions:
“Any person who commits or participates in ragging within or outside the educational institution, shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and on conviction after summary trial be liable for a term not exceeding two years. The victim shall be paid a compensation of an amount determined by court in respect of the injuries caused to such person.”
Although the Act specifies Higher Educational Institutions coming under the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978, it is absurd to suggest that it excludes similar criminal activity in schools. Even if schools are excluded from this Act, those in such institutions can be prosecuted for violating Article 126 and 10 of the Constitution which I have referred to.
So, let us be clear. If the victim of the ‘ragging’ sustains an injury, physical or psychological, both of which happened in S. Thomas’ College (and elsewhere), we are not dealing with some ‘schoolboy fun’, but an indictable offence, which on conviction, carries a jail term.
The fact that the victim of the present episode in S. Thomas’ College, “ does not wish to pursue this matter further”, is irrelevant. It is a criminal matter that calls for police action and prosecution. To do otherwise is not only compounding the problem, but illegal. If a crime has been committed (and assault which has clearly occurred is a criminal act), the police must be informed and the legal process initiated. It is required by law. It is not an opinion to be debated, but a legal problem to be followed. It is the obligation of those in charge of the institution to do so, where such an act has occurred.
Knowing the corruption in the police force, and the pressure that can be applied, it is essential that lawyers of standing be retained to ensure that the case is properly handled and justice is done. What the court will do is a separate issue. What is important is that a clear message will be sent that what is going on is unacceptable and must stop.
The extent of the problem
Ragging is widespread in educational institutes in India and Sri Lanka. Harsh Agarwal, co-founder of CURE (Coalition to Uproot Ragging from Education), a Delhi-based NGO, states that, “Sri Lanka is the worst affected country in the world”.
My experience
I have never been ragged in my life and do not know how I would have reacted had I been – adversely, I’d guess. Had I been traumatised physically or mentally, I would certainly have got my parents to see a lawyer and take the necessary legal action.
Although I have not been ragged, I have had extensive experience in this area and a long-standing interest, some of which I will set out in this article. It is a serious matter that goes beyond ‘fun’.
I have been concerned about ragging in schools, universities and elsewhere, for more than half a century. I am setting out my experience in S. Thomas’ College, Mt Lavinia (a student from 1939-1950), the University of Ceylon Science Faculty (an undergraduate 1951-54), Cambridge University (undergraduate 1954- 57), London University (undergraduate 1957-1960), Peradeniya University, Kandy (Senior Lecturer in Medicine 1968-76), Queensland University, Australia (Associate Professor of Medicine 1976-2001).
The Sunday Leader – A word of praise
Before I deal with ragging, I must commend the Chairman of this paper, Lal Wickrematunge, who refused to be intimidated, pressured, or bribed with an ‘afternoon meeting’ in the Royal Colombo Golf Club, by the father of the Head Prefect, Nalin Laduwahetty. Why the golf club and not the office of The Sunday Leader? Commendably, Wickrematunge declined the offer and went ahead and published the story. I am glad that there are still people of integrity left in Sri Lanka, who will ‘do the right thing’. As for Laduwahetty’s behaviour, comment is unnecessary.
I note that your reporter, Dinouk Colombage, who telephoned some of the prefects to get some information, received two threatening calls from a private number that was traced backed to the UK. Does that surprise me? Not at all. As I have said on many occasions, on matters unrelated to ragging, one of Sri Lanka’s less known exports is hooliganism and even ‘terrorism’. I have most certainly been subjected to this many times for drawing attention to the violation of human rights. I will let that pass without further comment.
I strongly commend the actions of the Editor, Frederica Jansz, not only for her outstanding editorial, but also for her determination and resolve to address this serious problem.
S. Thomas’ Mt Lavinia (1937-1950)
I am an old boy of S. Thomas’ College (STC) Mt Lavinia. I entered in 1937, aged five years, and left at 18 to enter the Ceylon University. My family has had close associations with this school for many years. It is (or was) a leading school held in high esteem.
It an Anglican Christian school, founded in 1851, to “To prepare Ceylonese that may enter the Christian priesthood, and to make good citizens”. It was not founded to produce hooligans and thugs. If what has now been reported is the ‘norm’ (as stated by some former prefects), then it is time for all of us to worry.
Amusingly, the ‘General Rules of the College’ state, “Ragging of any nature is strictly forbidden”. (The bold type is not mine). To make mattes worse, the Board of Governors of the School passed a Minute on 24 October 2003 directing the Warden (David Ponniah at the time), to take positive steps to stop ragging by prefects. Words must have meaning, and if they do not, then those in charge, not just the students, must be held responsible.
I joined the Kindergarten – the ‘Baby Class’ as it was called, when I was five years old. There was, of course, no ragging – indeed the opposite – great love and affection from some extraordinary teachers, the like of whom I have never met.
What of later life in the main school? There were those who came from home (‘day-scholars’) and boarders. There was absolutely no ragging of any day-scholar that I am aware of. The boarders were, at that time, in four dormitories – Chapman (after the founder of the College), Coppleston, Claughton, and Miller.
I was in Chapman House, first as a ‘private’ and later promoted to a Prefect. I do not know what went on in the other Houses, but I can vouch for the fact that there was never any ragging in Chapman House. When I became a Prefect, I took this a step further. I nominated half a dozen senior students to ‘look after’ the new arrivals till they made friends and settled down. They were, in modern language, their ‘buddies’. The nominated students were directly responsible to me, and I had direct access to the wonderful Housemaster, A.R.L. Fernando, who supported us.
Ragging in STC, back then, would simply not have been tolerated by us, let alone the staff. The school authorities did not need to act, we would have.
Science Faculty, University of Ceylon (1951-53)
There was extensive ragging in the Colombo Medical Faculty, which I cannot describe in detail because I was not there (I did my Medical training in the UK). The ragging in the Medical Faculty did not spread to the Science Faculty because of some exceptional senior students.
When we entered the Science Faculty, we were welcomed by the senior students. “Welcome to the Science Faculty. If we can do anything to help, please ask one of us’’. As for ragging, “There is no ragging in the Science Faculty, but medical students may come here and try to do so. If they do, we would like to be informed at once. Be assured we will act”.
To make doubly sure, they pinned a notice at the entrance to the Science Faculty. “You are now entering the Science Faculty where there is no ragging. If anyone tries to rag our students, they will be dealt with severely. You have been warned”.
Cambridge University (1954-57)
Cambridge is well-known for ragging. As such, I was concerned when I got there, not only what was in store for me but how I would react. I arrived in Selwyn College, not knowing a single soul there. The Porter gave me a note, “ Welcome to Selwyn. You are in room 101. We are in 105 and 107. If you are not too tired, do pop in for some coffee – Dick Bird and Richard Jowers”. (They were two senior students).
I popped in after dinner. “Oh! You’ve arrived? So glad you were able to come. Would you like coffee, or would you prefer tea from your country? You must tell us about your country when you have settled down”.
I had far more important things on my mind than to deliver a dissertation on Ceylon. Nervously I asked, “When does the ragging start, and what happens?” They laughed. “Oh that? Sometime next week, and we sincerely hope that you will take part.” I asked, “Do I have an option?” They replied, “Of course you do, but it will be so nice if you could come”. Seeing the look of utter confusion, they explained.
Ragging in Cambridge is not of the new entrants (freshers) but by them. The recipients are the public in Cambridge, who are entertained, or ‘persuaded’ to part with some money for the Widows and Orphans Fund. Greatly relieved, I offered my ‘services’ gladly.
On day one, I was invited to dress up as a tea plucker, complete with basket strapped on my back. Parading in the main street, the fascinated spectators were invited to drop a coin or two in the basket. Many did.
The next day, I was a ‘baila’ dancer, complete with sarong and headscarf. A tent was set up for the ‘performance’ with an admission fee that was well above the level of the performance. I ‘performed’, inviting the audience to join me on the stage. They had a ball, and returned in larger numbers for the midday and evening ‘shows’.
Day three, saw me as a policeman. I was asked if I would like to stop the passing cars and collect some money. The senior students were right behind me – “Ask them for what they can afford, but if it is a Jaguar, Rover, or similar, set the price. We will help you”.
Came a Rolls Royce. “Stop that car and ask for 5 pounds.” I thought that was exorbitant and asked why. “We know the owner, he has pots of money”. I stopped the car. The window came down and a one pound note was offered. Instructions came from my ‘support group’, “That’s peanuts, give it back”. I said, “Sir, My instructions are that to accept this would be an insult to your standing. Permit me to return it to you, with thanks.”
That night, three senior students (there might have been more), managed to get into the gentleman’s garage and ‘pinch’ (‘take a loan of’ – in Cambridge language) his 1925 Morris – a highly valued antique. The car was taken and hoisted on the roof of a nearby building. I have no idea how this engineering feat was accomplished, but there it was in the morning. It cost the owner more than 200 pounds to get a crane and manpower, to get it down. He got the message, and the next year ‘voluntarily’ contributed 50 pounds.
We raised 10,000 pounds (which was a small fortune in those days) and donated it to several charities. All of us, especially the ‘freshers’, had a ball.
The following year, I was a senior. I could perform another ‘baila’ dance, or stand back and tell the new freshers what had worked and what had not.
That was the Cambridge ‘rag’ – misunderstood and misrepresented in many places, including Sri Lanka, as you will see.
London University (1957-60)
There was no ragging at all. As I entered the medical school, two seniors met me and introduced themselves. “We are John and Peter. Catch us sometime in the tea-room and we will tell you what lectures are worth going for and which ones are a waste of time. Welcome to University College Hospital. You will have a great time here.”
Peradeniya University (1968-76)
I arrived in 1968 as Senior Lecturer in Medicine. Where ragging is concerned, I have never been in a more barbaric place. Let me walk you through this dreadful experience.
As a school boy in the 1950s, I had, of course, heard of the terrible ragging that went on in the Medical College in Colombo. It was not until that I arrived in Kandy as a don in the University, that I realised that ‘ragging’ could be more accurately described as ‘sadism’.
I made my intentions clear, that I was going to stop this barbarism. I pinned a notice on the Medical Faculty board that ragging would not be tolerated by me and that if anyone was caught ragging in the Medical Faculty, I would act, and the consequences would be serious.
I saw the Vice-chancellor and explained my stance. I asked him to back me, and suspend any student who was caught ragging. If he did not, I would inform the media, or quit the University which, incidentally, Professor Chandima Wijebandara did nearly three decades later.
A necessary digression
Let me digress to show that there are still people of integrity in Sri Lanka and others who have paid a price for the stance they have taken. In November 2002 there was a serious incident in the Jayewardenepura University. Samantha Vithanage, a third-year student, pioneered an anti-ragging campaign. He and others argued that ragging was demeaning and intimidating. They were meeting with representatives of the JVP-controlled Student Council who defended ragging. Whatever the rhetoric of the JVP, the reality was that it was a means of recruiting thugs to its ranks as well as intimidating its political opponents.
During the meeting, some 200 JVP supporters armed with clubs and stones stormed into the room and viciously attacked Vithanage and others. One of the attackers broke a large glass vase. Others picked up the pieces of glass and stabbed their victims. Vithanage was struck, fell to the floor and had, for good measure, a computer monitor dropped on his head.
When the ambulance arrived, the thugs stood around chanting, “We killed him, we killed him”, then pulled Vithanage out of the vehicle and assaulted him again. He died in hospital two days later. Thirteen other students were seriously injured.
The University was closed for a month. When it was reopened, Professor Wijebandara was appointed Vice-Chancellor in 2006. However, ragging restarted and Wijebandara unable to stop the abuse, resigned.
Professor Stanley Wijesundera, the first Vice-Chancellor of Colombo, one of the finest I have ever met, was not so lucky. He came under pressure by the JVP to shut down the University, which he (rightly) refused to do. On 8 March 1989, this distinguished academic was shot dead by the JVP.
Is all this relevant to what is being discussed? It sure is. If the schooling system produces thugs and hooligans e.g.: senior prefects in a major school who can slap a boy 25 times and injure him, when they get into university, they continue to be, well, thugs and hooligans. Hence the importance of stopping this nonsense early.
Back to Peradeniya University
Let me get back from this digression. I pinned more notices in the Medical Faculty, that anyone caught ragging will be severely dealt with, which included suspension or sacking.
A few days later, I heard, what sounded like ragging. “Left, right, left, right, raise your frocks, left, right, pull down your knickers, left, right…” I left my room to join the raggers. They all had heard of me, but only the clinical students had actually seen me. So there was no concern at my presence. After some minutes ‘enjoying the fun’, I worked out who was doing what, and disclosed my identity. “You, you and you, will meet me in the Vice-Chancellors office at 9 am tomorrow morning.”
I saw the V-C, told him what had happened and that those responsible would be in his office (with me) next day. I asked that they be suspended, or, preferably, sacked. If such deterrent action was not taken, I was going to the media. Unwilling to test my resolve, the students were suspended for a year.
The parents of one raced up to Kandy to see me and said that both were doctors, and what I had done would blast their beloved son’s future. I told them that coming as he did from such a family, I expected an even higher standard of behaviour. I explained that the Peradeniya University was not founded to train hooligans.
Ragging stopped, at least in the Medical Faculty (I gather it restarted after I left in 1976). It was not, however, a total success since it continued elsewhere. I exploded when a “fresher”, a girl, an Agriculture student from a rural area (not that it mattered) jumped out of a window on the second floor of Ramanathan Hall because of ragging, broke her neck and became a quadriplegic. She later committed suicide.
Why did she jump out of the window? Because she was about to have a candle inserted in her vagina (she was a virgin, not that that mattered either — perhaps it did) as part of the so-called ‘ragging’.
What made my blood boil was the reaction when I said that this sadism masquerading as ragging had to stop. The response was “Well, ragging is what they do in Cambridge University where Dr. Senewiratne was educated”.
As I have just explained, the ragging in Cambridge was very different from sticking candles in vaginae, putting testicles in drawers and closing the drawer, throwing people into the shallow Lotus (now the ‘Alwis’) pond at the entrance of the Peradeniya campus having first put bits of broken glass into the pond, parading terrified newcomers, some of whom had left home for the first time, and getting them to perform all sorts of crazy, and even obscene acts in public. That is sadism and criminal activity.
The next day I had an anonymous message presumably from some freshers, “Sir, we are going to be ragged in Arunachalam Hall at 11pm tomorrow. Please would you help us?”
I contacted several of my senior colleagues to ask whether they would come with me on ‘a midnight call’ to Arunachalam Hall. Their excuses were unbelievable. “I would love to come with you but my mother-in-law has just had a heart attack”, said one. “I think what you are doing is commendable. I would love to be associated, but it is my daughter’s birthday” etc.
Six brave souls offered to come with me. We met outside Arunachalam Hall at 11pm and decided to walk in. Someone had clearly tipped off the hoodlums who were organising the ragging because when we arrived it was like a cemetery. Deathly quiet. However we could see doors slightly open and eyes peering at us through the slit.
Two so-called student leaders came forward. “Sir, what are you doing here”? I said that I was a senior don and did not need his permission to walk into a Hall of Residence in my University. He asked, “Have you come to check whether there is any ragging? If you have, as you can see, there is none”. I said “Great. Keep it up”, and led my band of anti-raggers out of the Hall.
We had hardly gone a few feet when all hell broke. Hundreds of students appeared behind us hooting and throwing all sorts of missiles at us. In the chaos that followed we were, of course, hopelessly outnumbered. I thought that they would kill us.
To our great relief, there suddenly appeared a mass of students from the adjoining Halls. They were medical students who had heard that we were in danger, and quickly collected a ‘rescue squad’, came to our defence and prevented what could have been quite serious injury.
With increasing tension, I had an invitation the following week from Arunachalam Hall ‘for a tea-party’, supposedly to ‘make peace’. Naïve as I was, I decided to accept the invitation. As I was about to leave my home, four medical students arrived on two motorcycles. “Sir, where are you going?” I replied, “For a social or tea party or something like that”. They said, “You are not going any place. Some of the Arts students are ready for you with bottles of sulphuric acid. If you go what you get is not tea but sulphuric acid. We intend to park our bikes across your drive and prevent you from going”. I am, and will always be, so very grateful to these four students who saved me from a lot of suffering, if not death.
I decided that the public should be apprised of all this sadism, and criminal activity. I wrote a detailed article which was published in a Sunday paper, and later (resorting to fair means and foul), published where it really mattered, in one of the Sinhala papers. I explained that in Cambridge and Oxford, ragging was not of the students but of the of the people in the town, conducted by the students, to raise money for a charity. What their beloved offspring were being subjected to, was criminal activity, sadism and, in one instance, death.
There was a public uproar, and a demand for an investigation. The University was forced to act by the ‘Court of Public Opinion’. The ‘trial’ began. I was, as would be expected, leading the ‘prosecution’ and had to produce the evidence. I had a list of some seven students who had seen me in the General Hospital, Kandy, with quite serious injuries. I had them summoned. The level of intimidation and thuggery by the raggers was such that the victims were told that if they dared to admit anything, what they had been subjected to would be peanuts compared to what they would be in for.
I called my first witness. “Sirisena, can you please tell these gentlemen what you told me when you saw me in Kandy hospital?” Sirisena, “Sir, I have never seen you in my life.” Taken aback, I said, “OK. Go behind that cubicle and pull your trousers down so that we can see your testicles?” The bruising was still clearly visible.
“What’s this?” “Oh, Sir, I was climbing a tree and fell, and a branch hit me between my legs”. I clarified this, “So what you told me in hospital that your testicles were put in a drawer and the drawer closed, was untrue?” “Sir, you must have misunderstood me because my English is not very good”.
Witness number two. “Hello, Gunaratne, how is your hearing now?” “Why do you ask, Sir?” “Because when you saw me in the hospital, you had a perforated left ear drum”. “No, Sir, it must be someone else”. I got close to his left ear and whispered 42, 56, 64. “What did I say?” “Sir, I forgot to tell you that I was out bush-walking and a stick went into my ear”. “So, what you told me that during the ragging someone pushed a straightened out coat-hanger into your ear was untrue?” “Sir, who would do such a thing?” I had made notes. “Do you want me to read out the names of your assailants?” “Sir, all I can say is that no one did anything to me.”
Witness number three, “Come in Herath. How are your feet? Can you walk on them now?” “Yes, Sir, they are fine”. “Herath, tell these gentlemen what happened?” “Sir, it was very hot and I was dangling my feet in the Lotus pond, and got cut. Must have been some glass”. “So, what you told me that during the ragging you were made to walk in the pond by your raggers who had broken some bottles and thrown it into the pond, was not true”. “No, Sir, ragging is fun. They would never do things like that”.
I will not bother you with witness four, five, six and seven. The story was similar, implausible, absurd and patently untrue. The ‘investigators’ asked whether I had any other evidence, to which I replied in the negative. “Well, Dr. Senewiratne, as you could see, there has been no wrong doing. We have heard that you have been working very hard. Perhaps, you should have a holiday”. I smiled and went home.
Three decades later, I was invited as the Distinguished Guest to address a meeting in Toronto on human rights violations. After my talk, I invited questions or comments. Up jumped a senior doctor. “ I was one of Dr. Senewiratne’s students in Peradeniya. What I remember with deep gratitude is that he saved me and many others from being ragged.”
Australia (1976-date)
I am not sure what goes on in the schools. All I can say is that both my children went to school here and neither of them was ragged. They went to schools of the same level as S. Thomas’ College, Mt Lavinia. They certainly did not have to go to school with a candle and an onion, as I gather one of the students being ragged in S. Thomas’ had to do. I do not think I need to spell out what these objects would be used for in the sadistic ragging that goes on in Sri Lanka. Whether there is ragging in other schools, I do not know.
I might add that one of the reasons for migrating to Australia, was for the safety of my children, both of whom were going to do Medicine. I had no intention of exposing them to the sadism in Peradeniya. I heard, several times over, a veiled threat, “He has a daughter and a son. We will ‘deal with them when they enter the University”. My decision to leave a country which, according to CURE, leads the world in ragging, was not something I regret.
Ragging is not the same as bullying. There is bullying in Australian schools, without doubt. It is a serious problem being actively pursued by the authorities,
As for universities, I can speak only of Queensland University. There is no ragging, none that I am aware of. Most certainly, both of my children who went through this university were not ragged.
What importance is all this?
As I have stressed, ragging such as occurs in Sri Lanka is a criminal act that can carry a jail term of two years. To commit criminal acts with impunity is a hugely dangerous path to send children down.
If children can commit violations of human rights and get away with it, what would stop them doing the same when they are adults? What Sri Lanka is doing is to breed criminals, starting at a very early age.
These are the future rulers of Sri Lanka. These are the people who come forward as parliamentarians. I can do no better than to quote an Editorial in The Sunday Leader, which set out the options facing Sri Lankan voters at the 2010 General Election. In one of the most accurate descriptions of the vast majority of Sri Lankan politicians, the editorial was blunt:
“None of the individual contenders, political parties or opportunistic coalitions are worthy of our respect or our vote. Together they comprise the most mind-boggling array of crooks, thugs, conmen, hypocrites, unprincipled racists, rapists, drug dealers, money launderers, and general all-round scum that is without parallel elsewhere in the world. Other nations have their share of such undesirables, no doubt, but among them are a handful of honest, sincere, principled folk who have distanced themselves from the corrupt majority. Not so in miserable Sri Lanka.”
These ‘undesirables’ are the products of the schools in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankans will have to decide whether this is what they want. If they do not, then they will have to change what is going on in their schools and universities. We have seen these undesirables, ministers in the government, behave as thugs – going into private TV stations and breaking them up. We have seen them in Parliament physically dealing with other MPs in a way which is too crude to describe in detail. Is this what Sri Lankans want?
A further downside is that parents will take their children to universities outside Sri Lanka for their education (as I have done), and that talent depleted country will lose people whom it simply cannot afford to lose. Is that what the people of Sri Lanka want?
Of serious concern to me is that these ‘undesirables’ are being sent abroad, some to even represent the country in embassies. It gives me no pleasure to say that Sri Lankan exports are tea, textiles, rubber and coconut products, gems, spices, leather goods, and hoodlums. Having been at the receiving end of this hooliganism, I can vouch for it.
Is there an answer?
Yes there is. In a word — prosecution. As I have repeatedly stressed, this is criminal activity that violates the Sri Lankan Constitution and the Prohibition of Ragging and Other Forms of Violence in Educational Institutions Act, No. 20 of 1998. It has to be dealt with like any other crime. If this message if not sent loud and clear, this dreadful practice would go on and might well increase.
My concerns
I left Sri Lanka in 1976, and have no connections with that country, except a bleeding heart and an aching soul. My parents are buried in that country, and that is where I happen to have been born. As such, I have concerns as to what is going on there. It gives me no pride to read a serious publication that states, that where ragging is concerned, “Sri Lanka is the worst affected country in the world”. I have not the slightest doubt that a better Sri Lanka is possible, but it is up to the people of that country to act, in this and other areas of concern, which I will not deal with here.
1 http://noragging.com/index.php/Research/Reports/Ragging-History=and-Evolution.html
2 The Sunday Leader 4 April 2010. Editorial :Let’s not create a Democratic King
Dear Dr Snewiratne,
Last week you promised us an article on “ragging”, and you have not disappointed us. I was looking forward to it eagerly and you have clearly not disappointed me.
I have read through it hurriedly and will return to it after it has been attacked by others (that is something that I definitely expect).
As an alumni of S. Thomas’ and of the University of Peradeniya, (although of later vintage) may I unequivocally state that I am proud that I can claim “kinship” of some sort with you through the fact that both of us walked trhrough the same hallowed portals.
It is some hours since this article has appeared on the web, and no doubt in the printed newspaper. No comments have yet been displayed, but they may have been posted. For now, my wish is that this message of commendation will get in before some others begin to abuse you (I have done my homework on you during the last week.).
Sir, at the age of eighty you are in the the twilight of your years. Throughout your long life it is clear that you have been “More open than is usual”. May your labours bring forth good fruit; for your principles, your spirit and your soul, may I say,
ESTO PERPETUA
Oh my days Daya, have you just been born? This BS is the most disgusting creature on earth.He is now tired after fighting for an Eelam for three decades, and at last when he is too old to fight and his cousins have been annihilated by the Sri Lanka armed forces, he remembers home that his friends could not destry. Now he is trying to associate with the country he was fighting against, he was trying to devide. The Sunday Leader, you must be ashamed that you gave him a column. Remember, it’s hard to humanise an animal, a tiger’s stripes never change no matter how hard you try. Irony is, this man’s initials are BS..
This is what he said a few months ago “it has been very firmly established beyond any doubt, that there is no alternative to Eelam. For this, you have Rajapaksa and Fonseka to thank. When Eelam is finally established, which I have no doubt that it will be, these two characters who should have a statue erected at the entrance to Tamil Eelam “These are the two ‘patriotic’ (or idiotic) Sinhalese who made his possible.” (From Eelam news.com)
So Daya, please, for the sake of human kind, don’t call him sir.
Esto Perpetua, non cruentum BS
Dear Ruwan,
Thanks for your warning. Yes, your words mattered; but what got me more worried was seeing a video of Dr. S. whipping himself and his audience in to a frenzy in Canada. We DO have an ethnic problem and we MUST find a solution. But this must be done rationally, not by putting up the ante.
Right now I don’t have the time to do all the researching and thinking necessary, but the following considerations arise in my mind:
(1) Dr Brian S.’s article on ragging is excellent and deserved to be read by a wide audience and thought upon.
(2) A person can talk sense on one subject and nonsense about another.
(3) We know exactly when Dr Brian S. began making his excellent statements on “Ragging”; I haven’t ascertained when he said what on the ethnic problem. This problem has been in a state of flux for decades and has roused uncontrollable, unpredictable and extreme passions. Thankfully, with no more bomb scares we can think rationally now. So NOW we must THINK, unfortunately various people want us to be gullibly grateful and trust them blindly. Our entire society needs to re-think fundamentals – and S. Thomas’ has a very important role to play.
(4) I still have respect for Dr. Brian Senewiratne, but I have to work things out for myself. It may take time, because I DO have work to do.
So, thanks, Ruwan, and thanks Dr. Senewiratne for your wonderful contribution to the debate on ragging.
Ruwan, you are missing the point here. Mr Brian Seneviratne is only exposing the curse of ragging which has been going on in SL for many years. What has this got to do with his supporting the Tigers? Anybody has the right to condemn injustice, ragging,thuggery and corruption. Obviously you do not stand up for what is right. How very pathetic of you. This comment of yours speaks volumes for the type of upbringing you have had.
People in glass houses should never bathe in the Nude.Dr Brian Senewiratne was the only Sinhalese Tamil Tiger supporter S.Thomas college ever produced.He never condemned the atrocities committed by the Tamil Tigers and was considered by them to be a fellow traveller.He left Sri Lanka as he was not given a professorial post at the University.He has been found guilty of Criminal activity in Australia and is awaiting sentence.This is all over the internet.
Dear Elton John,
I got the first comment in on Dr Senewiratne’s fine article on “Ragging”. I predicted that there would be a great deal of personal abuse later hurled at the good doctor. I am writing this after reading your comment and five others – all abusive and off-subject – have appeared.
Elton, you sound like a Sinhalese and a Thomian; the only reason why you could have chosen the nick-name you are using must be because you, like the British singer, are gay. I have no problem with this. But remember that Sri Lanka is officially classified as “The Third Most Religious Country in the World”, and most Sri Lankans are not going to take too kindly to this. Besides which, gay activity of any sort is criminal in this country.
Why do I state this? Because you have used the mesmerising word “criminal” to slander Dr Senewiratne. Why not mention that the Doctor’s criminal activity lay in clearing (weeding?) his garden. The worst that can be construed from this is that he would accidentally uprooted some protected species of flora. Even this seems unlikely. Dr Senewiratne’s first (Sri Lankan) degree appears to have been done in the Science Faculty, to be followed by a number of medical degrees. Such a man is likely to know much more about plants and their value than any of us.
Eight days ago I had not heard of this Dr. Brian Senewiratne; now I find that when I Google “Charges against Dr Brian Senwwiratne” there are more than eight hundred blogs dealing with that aspect of him. Here is one of the obscure journals reporting “criminal charges”:
Criminal charges against Dr Brian Senewiratne in Australia – Sri Lanka
11 posts – Last post: 9 Sep 2007
The Brisbane City Council has instigated and successfully pursued a criminal charge against Dr.Brian & Mrs.S. Senewiratne, husband and wife, …
http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2007/9/19185_space.html – Cached – Similar
AND ANOTHER:
Criminal charges against leading LTTE agent in Australia: Dr Brian …
Criminal charges against leading LTTE agent in Australia: Dr Brian Senewiratne. Sun, 2007-09-09 12:20 — admin. News. By Sumane Liyanaarachchi, Sydney, …
http://www.asiantribune.com/node/7308 – Cached
Criminal charges against leading LTTE agent in Australia: Dr Brian …
Criminal charges against leading LTTE agent in Australia: Dr Brian Senewiratne. Sun, 2007-09-09 12:20 — admin. News. By Sumane Liyanaarachchi, Sydney, …
http://www.asiantribune.com/node/7308 – Cached
Yes, it is strange that most of the other blogs are from Tamil websites which have been trying to defend him. And now you have me. As far as I’m aware all my ancestors have been Sinhalese, and no close relative of mine has married a Tamil. I DO have a problem myself with those Sinhalese who are over-sympathetic about “the Tamil Cause” because they are not conscious of the sufferings of the Sinhalese underclass. But that, I think, goes for 98% of Thomians. I can’t help feeling that I am one of the few Thomians who has worked primarily with the poorer people of Sri Lanka – not bothering whether they are Sinhalese, Tamil or Moor. For the record, I don’t know a word of Tamil – although I would it were otherwise!
DR. SENEWIRATNE: I, too, quote Voltaire (Ranil Pieris also has done so during the past month) :
“I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your RIGHT to say it.”
The charges against Dr. Senewiratne are flimsier than those against Julian Assange:
10 days in Sweden: the full allegations against Julian Assange …
17 Dec 2010 … Q&A: Julian Assange allegations. Despite three legal hearings, there remains a lack of consensus about the status of charges against the …
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/17/julian-assange-sweden – Cached
Two weeks ago an Englishman told me that “The Guardian” was not a newspaper HE respected. The context in which he said this was in terms of what “Crazy Horse” had unearthed regarding the story of “Puddefoot and the Prince”, which I have already dismissed as of limited relevance to us, at S.Thomas’.
Eton head and staff severely censured over sacking | UK news | The …
5 Jul 2005 … £45000 damages for teacher who accused Prince Harry of cheating. 14 Feb 2006. · Eton agrees compensation for former art teacher · College …
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2005/jul/05/schools.publicschools – Cached – Similar
Let’s leave the Prince Harry digression behind us, and get back to my own Assange digression as reported by ‘Reuters”:
Special Report: STD fears sparked case against WikiLeaks boss …
7 Dec 2010 … The sexual misconduct case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange … for Assange’s arrest on rape and molestation charges in mid-August, …
http://www.reuters.com/…/us-wikileaks-assange-charges-idUSTRE6B669H20101207 – Cached
Sweden Seeks Sex-Crime Charges Against WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange …
3 Dec 2010 … After prosecutors dropped their case against him, the elusive founder of WikiLeaks again faces extradition to Sweden on sex-crimes charges.
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2035032,00.html
Given the context, this is harassment of Assange; but it is harassment which effectively tarnishes his image.
I’ve never been to England; just to finish this Prince Harry episode, here’s the flagship of Conservative British reporting, “The Times”:
Prince’s art teacher at Eton unfairly sacked – Times Online
5 Jul 2005 … ETON COLLEGE was “high handed and unprofessional” in its unfair sacking of an art teacher who secretly taped Prince Harry in an attempt to save … The Reverend John Puddefoot, the deputy headmaster, was also singled out …
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article540488.ece – Similar
Now for Dr. Senewiratne: his own words, addressed to a distinguished Thomian of later vintage, Dr Palitha Kohonne:
Your Excellency, I am a Sinhalese from the majority community, whose cousin was your former President, Chandrika Kumaratunga. I am not a Tamil, or a Tamil Tiger or a Terrorist, but someone who is deeply concerned with the future of Sri Lanka. I have no ‘agenda’. All I have is an aching heart and serious concern that a Democracy has been dismantled and replaced by a Totalitarian State. I am sure that as an Ambassador, these terms do not need to be spelt out to you.
The “criminal charges” against Dr. Senewiratne:
Criminal charges against Dr Brian Senewiratne in Australia – Sri Lanka
11 posts – Last post: 9 Sep 2007
The Brisbane City Council has instigated and successfully pursued a criminal charge against Dr.Brian & Mrs.S. Senewiratne, husband and wife, …
http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2007/9/19185_space.html – Cached – Similar
I’m trying to find out what sort of person Dr Senewiatne’s really is, I’ve got my sights on this at second position:
Dr. Brian Senewiratne | NowPublic News Coverage
6 Apr 2009 … A few months ago I came across one of Dr. Senewiratne’s articles on the internet. I wanted to post it to the political forums I’m in, …
http://www.nowpublic.com/world/dr-brian-senewiratne – Cached – Similar
All you guys (by tomorrow it would have swelled to twenty) who are determined to label him a criminal may do so; a criminal of the sort that Jesus Christ, St. Peter, and . . . St. Thomas!
I quote from the Wikipedia:
Thomas next proceeded overland to the Coromandel coast and ministered in what is now the Chennai (Madras) area, where a local king and many people were converted. One tradition related that he went from there to China via Malacca and, after spending some time there, returned to the Madras area (Breviary of the Mar Thoma Church in Malabar). Apparently his renewed ministry outraged the Brahmins, who were fearful lest Christianity undermined their social structure, based on the caste system. So according to the Syriac version of the Acts of Thomas, Masdai, the local king at Mylapore, after questioning the apostle condemned him to death about the year AD. 72. Anxious to avoid popular excitement, “for many had believed in our Lord, including some of the nobles,”the king ordered Thomas conducted to a nearby mountain, where, after being allowed to pray, he was then stoned and stabbed to death with a lance wielded by an angry Brahmin. A number of Christians were also persecuted at the same time; when they refused to apostatize, their property was confiscated, so some sixty-four families eventually fled to Malabar and joined that Christian community.[21][7]
Oh, dear, OUR S. Thomas appears to have met his end; cavorting with some filthy Dravidians, not with Lordly Aryans.
For those wanting the full blog, here it is:
Thomas the Apostle – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
St. Gregory of Tours (died 594) St. Gregory’s testimony: “Thomas the Apostle, according to the narrative of his martyrdom is stated to have suffered in …
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle – Cached – Similar
Now, don’t say Dr Senewiratne (or myself) brought Communalism into this discussion! My personal feeling is that although all my known ancestors are identified as “Sinhalese” it only means that they belonged there in a cultural sense. Mind, I too, can trace my genealogy about a thousand years along some links (or rather it’s been done for me!); all 20 million of us Sri Lankans ought to have our DNA tested; I’m sure that it will end in proving that we are more than half SOUTH Indian in lineage.
As for criminals, I will help you find one without much trouble:
Male Nurse In Boys’ School Gets ‘Treatment’ For Child Abuse | The …
5 Sep 2010 … By Ranee Mohamed. A sixty two year old male nurse who had been working in the sick room of S. Thomas’ College, Gurutalawa for six months has …
http://www.thesundayleader.lk/…/male-nurse-in-boys’-school-gets-‘treatment’-for-child-abuse/ – Cached
No no, I’m not going for Maximus Perera: I’ll make it easier by singling out the two items within that blog that show that Chickera knowingly went against a Supreme Court order:
Eksith Fernando V. Manawadu And Others (St. Thomas’ College Cases)
EKSITH FERNANDO v. MANAWADU AND OTHERS (ST. THOMAS’ COLLEGE CASES). SUPREME COURT DHEERARATNE, J. WIJETUNGA, J. AND ISMAIL, J. SC APPEAL NO. 55/99 …
http://www.lawnet.lk/docs/case_law/slr/HTML/2000SLR1V78.htm – Cached
followed by the appointment of Rev. Marc Billimoria, with only two years’ teaching experience, without the knowledge of the other members of the BOG, and of the Jewish Guinea Pig, Jacques Huyghebaert who was the saviour of the school, a saint who is still with us, here today !
May Faith, Hope, Charity and Perseverance always be with us!
ESTO PERPETUA
Daya, Please, i you haven’t heard about this dot-turr until last week, keep quiet will you. We have listened to his live speeches against Sri lanka when he made on Eelam stage. One such was at Trafalgar Square in london in 1997. It was well over 8 days if you can count. Nobody will read your long display of ignorance, the best you could do is, listen and learn.
Esto Perpetua. BS ad infera
Well, at least he condemned the sinhala terrorists who burned and murdered Tamils in 58, 78, 83 and so many times thereafter!
Elton John:
Proof please, not just “all over the internet!”
is peelam there yet?
Why don’t you go find out??? Oh I forgot, you Sinhala thugs can’t get visas no more!! : )
Lela,
You can have your Australia to you and die there. Don’t ever come to Sri Lanka. You are a curse to both Sinhala and Tamil communities alike.
What is this Sinhala kotiya up to now. Has he taken up writing silly articles to earn a buck after he lost his income from the LTTE for his promotional work in Australia .
Hi Prof, you have lost the plot. Dont you know that anybody can condemn injustice, ragging, corruption and human rights violations in any part of the world ?
Has he changed thearea of coflict from appeasing LTTE all these years and to a civil subject.?
This is not a serious issue to be discussed when other serious issues deliberately ignored by the srilankan society, such as child abuse, rape, murder, assault. the state & the police look the other way.
Dear Mr Sheriff,
I’m not sure what you mean by “this”.
Is it these ridiculous “criminal charges” against Dr. Senewiratne (which would be fine), or do you mean that the serious violations of Human Rights detailed by Dr. Senewiratne – which I think must be the case. If the latter is the case, may the powers above bless you!
I expect more unfair comments, but I hope a few others display your balance!
ESTO PERPETUA
Au contrair, M H Sheriff
It is PRECISELY these acts, committed with impunity in younger years, that lead to all the other things you mention, later on in life
As you learn, so shall you do
It seems, Senewiratne, you are not only a traitor to your country, but a traitor even to your school.
Dear Dancer,
Aren’t you the guy who said, on the 3rd of March 2011, that a lady who writes “St. Thomas’ College” instead of “S. Thomas’ College” cannot be the wife of a Thomian? That appeared below the blog, “Nine Thomians Assaulted by Senior Prefects”. I dealt with that, but also, since you are so concerned with correct English, pointed out that “you cannot be knowing things” because they told us in College that “know” is an inchoative verb?
You call Dr. Senewiratne a traitor to his country but you lay such great store by English usage, while not being able to use that strange language correctly yourself. Don’t you, as an ardent patriot recognise that English is a foreign language?
Some of you guys who have commented appear to know Dr. Senewiratne very well. I don’t. I only know that although he is essentially a scientist he writes better than any of us; and he has written sense here.
I can only conclude, Dancer, that you love to deal with trivialities. These comments of mine have become far too long; I appeal to readers to let the comments made by all of us be, and to re-read Dr. Senewiratne’s fine article.
Dr. Senewiratne clearly has a great love for the College he knew more than 65 years ago, and is genuinely concerned with a deterioration that he sees after that. But he’s not all negative. He, like me is fully supportive of the clean-up initiated by Warden Puddefoot. You probably call Dr. S. a “traitor” for talking openly about what you want swept under the carpet !
Dear Daya,
Please keep your yammering and circular logic to yourself. If you don’t know anything about the author, then why do you constantly want to bloviate online? Is it because nobody cares about what you have to say in real life?
Dear Dancer,
We’re born knowing nothing in a cerebral way. We’ve got to educate ourselves. During the last two days I’ve learned plenty more about the author; some of it is disturbing. However, I’m sure that he’s intelligent and honest, and what he has said in the article that he has posted here is EXCELLENT. So, why not stay on topic and work other aspects of the life of this very old man, each of us off-line.
The problems that face our society are so grave that we need to think carefully. Yes, for the time being, I admit that I find that Dr. S. is not just pro-Tamil, but has been almost an LTTE activist. Times have changed, and we must persuade everybody to be more reasonable. We can’t do this by splitting hairs.
People DO care about what I have to say about real life. The outgoing Chairman of the Thomian BOG does. I was in a unique position to expose his dishonesty. I did so years before this ragging controversy surfaced. Why doesn’t he respond? I have sent HIM signed statements, and we have met and discussed issues many times long ago, when he could make adjustments away from the public gaze. Yet he resorts to lies, casuistry, and significant silences, while waxing eloquent on political issues in an attempt to occupy the moral high ground.
Now, I have work to do. I use a pseudonym online because far too much of Thomian discussion is anecdotal, frivolous and ad hominem.
Yes, dear Dancer, start THINKING!
ESTO PERPETUA
In true Sri Lankan form, some of the those who have responded have chosen to ridicule the person making the statements, rather than reviewing the facts and if relevant acting on it. I just hope that they are also folks who live outside of Sri Lanka. We on the other hand who do live in this country should make it a point to weed out this evil!
I am proud to say that the University of Moratuwa in 1996/97, when I was an undergrad (though with little help from me personally), managed to curb most of the ragging!
Well said, Ruwan Fernando!
The “ragging” WAS a common assault, carried out by thugs, pure and simple.
You wouldn’t allow a ministers bodyguard to get away with assault now, would you ? You’d raise a lot of protests, I’m sure.
Why the double-standard for St. Thomas ?
These young thugs will go on in life to become leaders of men and will do exactly the same thing because they have not been answerable for their actions in their youth .. Is that what you want ?
Perhaps it is….
I am still reading Dr. Brian Senewiratne’s Article on ‘Spotlight’ dated 27th March.
Halfway reading of this article I thought of writing my experience.
I am really glad that ‘Sunday Leader’ is exposing this kind of happenings in their paper. Sunday Leader is my favorite Sunday Paper.
Mt sister’s 2 sons who are 16 years and 14 year are attending St. Thomas College, Mount Lavinia.
The eldest Boy joined as a Cadet in school and he had to go to school early morning and also after school for the training in school premises. These children are well behaved, well disciplined children and also the Alter boys in their Church for a long time.
He (the eldest) used to come home and explain to his parents of the slapping and the other humiliation they have to face by the senior Prefects of the school.
He used to say ‘Ammi , they slap me, they slap me for reason, they slap my face about 25 times and it pains a lot, I cannot go for cadeting, they are humiliating us.’. The parents are not wealthy people and they find school fees and other expenses with a great difficulty to pay for the Education. they were helpless and very sad. Even though the parents tolerated a bit and send the child again for cadeting, this humiliation never stopped. The child liked cadeting so much , he was really heart broken the way the prefects were treating the children.
So one day the mother went and met a Seniror person in school and also the prefects and had told about the incidents…she had also told them..” This is what the prefects do to my child…this is very unreasonable as we are already facing financial difficulties (this is because they have sold a land and had dip posited money in Golden Key to get the interest for their living and they lost all that money)….so the boys are under lot of stress even at home….so please don’t make them lose the things they like to do at school as well….” so the conversation was over with the promise that they will look after him well.
Then they had to go outside for some training (I am not sure what it is as this about my sister’s son and this is what she told me yesterday)…so the parents were scared of the boys and the father had gone their slowly to check on the boy and he found the boy was washing some cloths near a tap. By seeing the father the child had got scared as he thought the Prefects will see the father, so he had asked the father to leave immediately.
So after the programme when the boy came home he had again told, they slapped him (even though I am writting about our boy, this is happening to others as well)….they have slapped so hard the face was red….” What the prefects do is , first they take them to a room and lock them up, then they blind fold them and start slapping and humiliating them…then after sometime they ask the child to remove the blindfold….and when he remove it , he won’t find anyone in the room. This is because the child cannot identify anyone.
The parents were very sad and they had no other solution but to stop the child from the only thing he liked in his school life other than his Education.
Within 2 weeks Sunday leader exposed them in their paper….Hats off to sunday leader…
From where these prefects have learnt to humilate the child in this manner..I am sure they from the parents who are involve in professions where they humilate people like this and they come home and talk about it in front of their
children and the children go and practice it in school…OR may be their father’s must be punishing these children this way at home or have they seeing violence at home….
This must be stop immediately. After facing humilation like this the children can’t go home and do their studies…and the parents are so sad.
This story is first hand information….Sunday Leader you can talk to the cadets
and see whether they still face this kind of humiliation. This must be still going on………
I am still reading Dr. Brian Senewiratne’s Article on ‘Spotlight’ dated 27th March.
Halfway reading of this article I thought of writing my experience.
I am really glad that ‘Sunday Leader’ is exposing this kind of happenings in their paper. Sunday Leader is my favorite Sunday Paper.
Mt sister’s 2 sons who are 16 years and 14 year are attending St. Thomas College, Mount Lavinia.
The eldest Boy joined as a Cadet in school and he had to go to school early morning and also after school for the training in school premises. These children are well behaved, well disciplined children and also the Alter boys in their Church for a long time.
He (the eldest) used to come home and explain to his parents of the slapping and the other humiliation they have to face by the senior Prefects of the school.
He used to say ‘Ammi , they slap me, they slap me for no reason, they slap my face about 25 times and it pains a lot, I cannot go for cadeting, they are humiliating us.’. The parents are not wealthy people and they find school fees and other expenses with a great difficulty to pay for the Education. they were helpless and very sad. Even though the parents tolerated a bit and send the child again for cadeting, this humiliation never stopped. The child liked cadeting so much , he was really heart broken the way the prefects were treating the children.
So one day the mother went and met a Seniror person in school and also the prefects and had told about the incidents…she had also told them..” This is what the prefects do to my child…this is very unreasonable as we are already facing financial difficulties (this is because they have sold a land and had dip posited money in Golden Key to get the interest for their living and they lost all that money)….so the boys are under lot of stress even at home….so please don’t make them lose the things they like to do at school as well….” so the conversation was over with the promise that they will look after him well.
Then they had to go outside for some training (I am not sure what it is as this about my sister’s son and this is what she told me yesterday)…so the parents were scared of the boys and the father had gone their slowly to check on the boy and he found the boy was washing some cloths near a tap. By seeing the father the child had got scared as he thought the Prefects will see the father, so he had asked the father to leave immediately.
So after the programme when the boy came home he had again told, they slapped him (even though I am writting about our boy, this is happening to others as well)….they have slapped so hard the face was red….” What the prefects do is , first they take them to a room and lock them up, then they blind fold them and start slapping and humiliating them…then after sometime they ask the child to remove the blindfold….and when he remove it , he won’t find anyone in the room. This is because the child cannot identify anyone.
The parents were very sad and they had no other solution but to stop the child from the only thing he liked in his school life other than his Education.
Within 2 weeks Sunday leader exposed them in their paper….Hats off to sunday leader…
From where these prefects have learnt to humilate the child in this manner..I am sure they from the parents who are involve in professions where they humilate people like this and they come home and talk about it in front of their
children and the children go and practice it in school…OR may be their father’s must be punishing these children this way at home or have they seeing violence at home….
This must be stop immediately. After facing humilation like this the children can’t go home and do their studies…and the parents are so sad.
This story is first hand information….Sunday Leader you can talk to the cadets
and see whether they still face this kind of humiliation. This must be still going on………
An excellent article. I have just two comments. Dr Senewiratne’s position on the LTTE is irrelevant to his position on ragging in schools and universities, unfortunately some of the more moronic commentators cannot understand this. Even more unfortunately, nothing will be done about ragging because both civil society and the government are corrupt and brutal.
Excellently put, Rajabzadeh!
1st of all, It’s my pleasure to thank you sir, Dr. Brian, for the priviledge that you undertaken for the truth, which should be enounced for the world. However, I have been went through you’r article sir, I have understood the information and thoughts which you have given here, from you’r experience, which you have recieved from S. Thomas’. By this you have proved that you are…………….. ‘ALWAYS A TRUE THOMIAN’ Best wishes from a lovable Thomian.
ESTO PERPETUA !!!
The above comment of mine is the truth….Old Thomian’s , don’t try to cover up.
I know that u love your school, we also love our school…but more than that you must be loving your children, are’nt you ?
Children are the most precious possession to the parents.
You cannot allow some frustrated , bully in school humiliate your children.
Just because their parents do not know what is going on with their children and just because their children had gone hey wire does not mean it is with everyone else.
If the parents do not discipline their children at home, the society is definitely going to discipline them. That means they learn the hard way.
We love our children and we do not care whether you , some old boy (or old man) love his school so much so that your bully , crass , 3rd rate children come and beat our children.
Don’t they get married and have children one day,…so how will you feel if some big bully come and slap your child…they you will feel the same pain….
Old Thominans or whoever you call your self, you must be ashamed of your self if you say that you love your school more than the small children.
If u love your school so much…go…go and help the school staff to discipline your bully sons.
Your must be having money to cover up your son’s sins, but everyone is not like you.
If you read the Autobiography of Praphakaran , you will understand how he became a person like what he was….it says that he started humiliating lizards..that was the start….
So you Love YOUR SCHOOL UNTIL YOUR SONS BECOME dangerous people to the society.
Actually this kind of things won’t happen in International schools.
Sunday Leader Please go and check with International school whether such things happens….never….
I am astonished at the adverse comments about a seriously genuine article by a true Sri Lankan who has serious concerns for our youths. I also endorse the fearless attitude of Editor, Frederica Jansz for her stance. I believe everything Dr. Seneviratne has said about Peradeniya University. These are the same morons who objected to a hall being named after Sir Ivor Jennings, who did vastly more than anybody else to raise our education standards in Sri Lanka.
100%do not like , these types of 3rd class inhuman ragging are carried out by the low class family background rascals who wanted to study in high named schools , but many will not tolerate , they will go even to extent to murder the boys who commits such type of bodily harm raggins , keep apart the punishment to the raggers , so it is a fervent appeal to good parents to make sure to obey ur sons , daughters in good dssciplined manner , no matter you might be the king of this world , i think nobody will tolerate and people will take the law to their hands , by that time it will be too late , so be alert before law over powers you try to to respect the current law.
like the dancer said correctly , that seneviratne is a traitor and he shud be taught a lesson before we teach lesson to the prefects of st.thomas college. after obtaiing free edcution from our tax paying money in sri lanka he has migrated to the country
i was waiting for the activity stories at STC LOL
Dear Brian,Good day !!!!
Your article this Sunday was a long one, very interesting. We were not aware of these types of things happened in this so called great school and further more the article is quite illustrative. I share a similar doctorate as you have but my light hearted humor reminds me that I have been through the gates of a better school to yours up in Kandy .
The article is source of information on the ragging system in SL. This seems common in all socio standards doesn’t it? In university “Ragging is exclusive for fresher’s and doubled if you are from a reputed school, it seems its different in schools like STC ,its tradition?? This should not be the case if its intended body harm. Value for a respective human being should always be the role model. Having said that we must not forget the contributions these boys from reputed schools give back to the community and the economy, like yourself has done. We also should remember the old law term – untill proven guilty” !!!!
But my friend amount of pessimism is also aroused and blokes my thoughts of your conscience, because when watching through one of your speeches in Canada on utube – You have accused are armed forces -:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBlWgOEZl7E&feature=player_embedded
You have highlighted that if you returned SL you would be kidnapped or killed; is it because you have accused our armed forces of crimes in one of your speeches? Or is it because you have accused Mr Gotabaya Rajapakse ? What would be your reason not return to SL was in my thoughts…..In my personal thoughts I like Mr Rajapakse. We as SRI Lankans should be happy that we are now free from terrorism, we don’t hear bombs explode, killings of innocence,….while are brothers and sisters die up north in battle for a bunch of sadistic terrorists. We should be great full to the people who stood up for us and denied a world of terrorism for our next generation.
As such your article remains subdued in my thought, seems as something you wanted to off load from your mind, it’s questionable if there is complete truth. After all a person who always uses his name or the word” I ” in everything he does, says and writes is someone who has self believes of creating a illusion of himself and that illusion being, of greatness.
These are just my personal views as it’s within my rites to exercise my freedom of thought.
“The worst thing about medicine is that one kind makes another necessary”. ~Elbert Hubbard
Good day my friends I like to share a quote with you -
“Surgeons must be very careful”
When they take the knife!
Underneath their fine incisions
Stirs the Culprit – Life!
~Emily Dickinson
Life is wonderfull live to the maximum and love each other.
Yes Sir, In 1975 I worked as a technician at the Peradeniya Medical Faculty and used to work late in the evening. We have seen you with different women almost every day at your Department. That is the other example you gave at Peradeniya other than preventing ragging. I hope you still remember those naughty days.
I salute you sir for always placing human rights as an inevitable part of human dignity and standing up, when others have chosen to look the other way. Somewhere down the line a culture of violence has been planted to be co terminous with particular hierarchies, and continues to flourish, in schools, in police stations, the state and other institutions. It is this culture of violence and impunity that must be challenged not only through prosecution, but also with other beliefs and practices of shaming that will provide some kind of resistance to these dominant powers. St.Thomas has done the right thing here. It was a wise decision to hire a Warden of a different country who does not have roots that can be threatened or uprooted by those with power. The Warden seems to be a man of principle.
There are none so blind as those who will not see………..it is time for the thomians to accept that they have been disgraced with this inhumane ragging incident and at least now try to prevent it happening in the future rather than point the finger at anyone who writes or comments on it……
Oh No! We can’t accept that !
We must continue to hide our perverse natures behind labels like “tradition” and ensure that even more imaginatively sick acts are carried out in the future ..
Clearly, this has been going on for a long time and each successive bout becomes more and more extreme. It may go to the point where someone loses their life
All in the name of “tradition”… wow !!
I am not surprised by these downgrading comments by some people. This country has literally gone to the dogs with some people seeing tigers at every corner. I salute you sir, for your invaluable insight and thought provoking article on ragging.
Dear Winston
You may or may not dispute what Dr Brian has written but you cannot dispute the fact that he is a tamil tiger supporter and a traitor to his country.
Please go to this site and see for yourself.
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/7308
Dear Elton John,
Is this all you can produce? The “criminal act” was “only” destroying some plants in his garden. (Now it is possible that those plants WERE of vital importance to the environment and that the world has lost some valuable flora.)
But bandying the word “criminal” connotes that Dr Senewiratne is a murderer, or a rapist, or bank robber.
I have browsed the internet. Dr. Senewiratne appears to have a more than normal concern (doesn’t mean “abnormal”) for the plight of Tamils. He has been BRANDED a Tiger by you, and by the writer of the article you have quoted. He has specifically stated that he is NOT a supporter of the LTTE, and NOT a terrorist.
Dr. S. is NOT a traitor! He has done more than his share to warn us that we’re heading for disaster by not educating up Sinhalese and Tamil children together as comrades. That is one thing we Thomians can be proud of. Race doesn’t matter at S. Thomas’ – but all this recent correspondence suggests that an alien language (and social class) matter far too much.
State education is virtual apartheid: I’ve looked at your quote, so please see this.
Sri Lanka POLITICS:: Sri Lanka`s Education Minister Prevents Tamil …
11 posts – Last post: 18 Feb 2008
Sri Lanka`s Education Minister Prevents Tamil Girl Admission To … Vishaka Vidyalaya is one of the leading girls schools in Colombo, …
http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2008/2/24845.html – Cached
I believe the girl in question IS now in Vishaka Vidyalaya, but why did she have to fight her way back in to the school via the courts (I believe the Supreme Court.)?
Elton John, the pseudonym you have given yourself seems significant. By now I’ve come to be quite tolerant of Adult Consensual Gay Activity, but NOT of Paedophilia.
There are much more important things that we must work hard at. Creating Sinhalese-Tamil harmony comes right on top for me. We cannot do that by declaring that Sri Lanka belongs to us, with Tamils only tolerated if they toe our line. Tamils, too, must realise that “militant Tamil activity” harms us all, and that many Sinhalese are also eking out a bare subsistence.
Let’s all work together, Elton. Don’t expect me to campaign for gay rights, but I certainly won’t oppose any campaign by YOU for adult freedom in this respect. But NO Sadism and NO Paedophilia.
Koti Winston
I am not a Thomian but ragging happens as a tradition in schools like Royal,St.Thomas, etc. It has been going on for decades and people who cant facce it are the people who doesnt have testicles which a male human should produce. these are the people who writes to the press. disgaurding the senior prefects who were loyal to the school was not the write move to make to cover up the problem.
If you get run off the road by a Minesterial Motorcade or assaulted by a Cop or Minesterial Thug, say to yourself “this is tradition”
Dear “name not required”,
Are there really monsters like you?
Required of you: PROOF THAT YOU PASSED O.LEVEL ENGLISH !
Well said sir you are a jewel. Also this Doctor does not know why Fredi wants to make this a big issue ! sad a so called cambridge educated doctor is so ignorant ! Must be out of his senses due to old age.
It is a great surprise this traitor was not severely ragged in Sri Lanka.
That would’ve explained some of his psychological issues and his hatred of his motherland which wasted resources on his free university education.
Dear Doctor, you are a shame not only to the country but to your alma mater as well. you should NEVER call you self a Thomian. SHAME ON YOU !!!!
Dinesh Perera
Why not call him a Thomian ? He went to that school, no ?
The people who should be ashamed are those who carried out these acts of perversion against their fellow students., not those who call them out.
By defending and promoting such appaling conduct, you encourage their continuance in later life. These wastrels and baby-thugs may one day occupy the highest positions in the land (unless of course Thomians are incapable of such advancement) and they will do exactly the same things then.
Too late to complain then…
Snereviratne who is not worthy of his doctorate now bribes Lal Wickremetunge to be heard in Sri lanka.
Lal is a businessman and by all means not a sucker, Mr. Seneviratne.
Lao will invite you to write and people in Sri Lanka by all means no saints will open your closet for you Mr. absent minded Seneviratne.
You have referred to Nalin Laduwahetty by name in this article. Do you expect him to raise a “White Flag” and walk upto you ???
Keep your credentials to yourself. You are a traitor to your land of birth with no Loyalty.
Doc you are a shining beacon of hope to Sri Lankans and Thomains everywhere.
All these other morons don’t realize that by barking like mad dogs they make STC look really bad.
I fully agree
Hmmm… not a good attempt this time Sunday Leader.
Dear Brian,Good day !!!!
Your article this Sunday was a long one, very interesting. We were not aware of these types of things happened in this so called great school and further more the article is quite illustrative. I share a similar doctorate as you have but my light hearted humor reminds me that I have been through the gates of a better school to yours up in Kandy .
The article is source of information on the ragging system in SL. This seems common in all socio standards doesn’t it? In university “Ragging is exclusive for fresher’s and doubled if you are from a reputed school, it seems its different in schools like STC ,its tradition?? This should not be the case if its intended body harm. Value for a respective human being should always be the role model. Having said that we must not forget the contributions these boys from reputed schools give back to the community and the economy, like yourself has done. We also should remember the old law term – untill proven guilty” !!!!
But my friend amount of pessimism is also aroused and blokes my thoughts of your conscience, because when watching through one of your speeches in Canada on utube – You have accused are armed forces -:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBlWgOEZl7E&feature=player_embedded
You have highlighted that if you returned SL you would be kidnapped or killed; is it because you have accused our armed forces of crimes in one of your speeches? Or is it because you have accused Mr Gotabaya Rajapakse ? What would be your reason not return to SL was in my thoughts…..In my personal thoughts I like Mr Rajapakse. We as SRI Lankans should be happy that we are now free from terrorism, we don’t hear bombs explode, killings of innocence,….while are brothers and sisters die up north in battle for a bunch of sadistic terrorists. We should be great full to the people who stood up for us and denied a world of terrorism for our next generation.
As such your article remains subdued in my thought, seems as something you wanted to off load from your mind, it’s questionable if there is complete truth. After all a person who always uses his name or the word” I ” in everything he does, says and writes is someone who has self believes of creating a illusion of himself and that illusion being, of greatness.
These are just my personal views as it’s within my rites to exercise my freedom of thought.
“The worst thing about medicine is that one kind makes another necessary”. ~Elbert Hubbard
Dear Red Cap,
I will be eternally grateful to Rajapaksas, Fonsekas, Goonetillekes, Karannagodas etc. for (to quote you) ” We as SRI Lankans should be happy that we are now free from terrorism, we don’t hear bombs explode, killings of innocence,….”
Wish it could have been achieved by different means, but I accept that we peacenicks were ineffective in countering the LTTE.
But we have to move on. We must actively promote reconciliation.
Winston Churchill rightly warned about the danger of Hitler from the late 1920s; he also won the Second World War. But Atlee was the man for PEACE!
Dr. Brian Seneviranthna – hope you can remember me well in Sri Lanka. You are a tiger supporter and your doctorate is false. STC can resolve it’s issue and patriotic Old Boys – to the country and to alma mater is there. You need not intervene.
Also we all know who are in contact with current affairs you are waiting for a judgement from the Aussie government for crimes you have committed. Just keep your two hoots for yourself and we do not need comments from tigers overseas. Now this country knows that there is an overseas sinhala tiger called Brian Senevirathna. You are the only Thomian Tiger for sure !
What is wrong with you ? Dont you know that anybody can condemn injustice, ragging, thuggery, corruption and human rights violations in any part of the world ? You have gone off the point.
It appears that the majority of past Thomians have a unusual and perverted fondness for being abused by their seniors. Not only have they seen fit to defend their abusers but also seem to be championing further abuse of many generations to come.
It must appear blatantly obvious to anyone that this abuse has seriously damaged these ‘old boys’ mental processes. I can find no other explanation for why they would continue raise support for such a degrading practice to be carried out in their beloved Alma Mater!
Here is an extract from an open letter by Dr.Senewiratne
Quote
I am a Sinhalese from the majority community in Sri Lanka, not from the brutalised Tamil community. I have campaigned for some five decades for the right of the Tamils to live with equality, dignity and safety in the country of their birth.
I am releasing this media briefing as a concerned Australian (here for 32 years), and as a member of the Socialist Alliance, the only non-Tamil organisation [in Australia] to support the struggle of the Tamils for justice.
The Sinhalese-dominated Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) claims it is fighting a “war on terrorism”. What it is really doing is fighting the Tamil people to force them to accept Sri Lanka as a Sinhala-Buddhist nation. To this end, it is prepared to commit genocide of the Tamils, similar to Hitler’s “final solution of the Jewish question”.
Unquote
Over to you readers to make a judgement on the credibility of this man. These are the people who can go down to any low level for their benefit.
Doctor , I do not agree with your viewpoints as a sympathiser of the LTTE but your well thought out article is something the authorities at school level and at national level should take very seriously. This continued disregard for human values and common decency is something that will haunt our country if not addressed immediately
I read the article about the anti ragging by this guy with interest and totally endorsed the contents, I just surfed the web to chk about this guy and alas!! What I read bout is what an un patriotic man he is!!! He seem to be the spokesman for the LTTE and suppoter to divide the country. Due prominance is given to his article even in Tamil net.
I request other readers too, to raed about this guy.
In the last para of the article says that he has no connection with the country after leaving in 1976. Who needs un patriotic humbugs like him??? If he or his sons ever visit SL you can be assured that he should not be ragged but should be hung in Galle face!!!
Traitor or not you decide…
http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2008/10/33502_space.html
http://vodpod.com/watch/1326830-dr-brian-seneviratnes-speech-at-pongu-tamil-in-toronto-1-3
http://www.tamilnet.tv/news/2008/12352/rajiv-gandhi/
http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2008/10/33502_space.html
He is related to CBK from what I gather.. that says alot.
To take such a vagrant of this country who espouses terrorism and bandies with such low lives reflects poorly of the already waning Sunday Leader’s stature…
This is the attempt of a souless , sorry excuse of a human beings attempt to gain acceptance in some form of the other in a manner.
Such like his failed attempts to gain professorships and also it might be worth to check on his stature at Queensland Uni which made SL students and lecturers the laughing stock ..
Enough said of this mutant …
Expect to see something from that mother cum ex teacher…………….
Why ever not ? Because they are not lambasting a Rajapakse this time ?
You mean you can dish it out but can’t take it ?
Brian lokka,
Api ragging paththaka daamu. Thamuse hari loku miniha venna hadala nokang kicha venava neda?
Don’t call yourself a Thomian. Also, don’t call yourself a Sri Lankan ane please.
I cannot believe all the people that attack the messenger. Do you people think that brutal ragging is acceptable? What is wrong with you people? Do you have any clue as to what psychological damage is done when one is exposed to such acts? The damage stays with the person their entire life. I know that Sri Lanka does not have much in the form of psychology research but please do not show your ignorance by trying to negate what is happening in the schools.
well done sunday leader now You have clearly disgraced S.Thomas’ College.. not by any other thing but by simply pointing out the writer, Seneviratne is a thomian..
This guy says, “The school was made to prepare Ceylonese that may enter the Christian priesthood, and to make good citizens”. So what were you doing there?
Also he says, “It was not founded to produce hooligans and thugs”. I am baffled now. This is a man who is fighting hard to devide the country and promote hooliganism.
Mr. Ferdinandez, my friend you have hit the nail on the coffin. I frankly belive all of us ahould refrain from commenting on this “Thomian issues” what happen in STC will be handled by its own privet commitee as its governed by its own laws. This is good publicity for the Sun day leader, I had a good friend working there who ran the show unfortunatley he passed away and ever since then I feel the its all about making a quick buck through people like us :D, Stop all this comments friends as I know there are severel employees of this news paper stiring up this artticle to keep it going.
Readers, chk this website
http://www.asia-pacific-action.org/node/205 – Cached
Dr Brian Senewiratne.. isn’t this the guy who supported the LTTE terrorists and betrayed his own country???? Sorry Dr Brian, your opinion doesn’t count. You are my enemy and enemy of Sri Lanka.
Funny how you morons in SL still fear the fearsome LTTE even as you say (not sure if it is true or not) that they were all killed. You attribute everything to them. Obviously the mention of the name, still send shivers up your spine.
We left all the shivers at the Nanthikudal lagoon.
I take it your a strong LTTE . Actually the word LTTE does send shivers up our spine,not becouse of the name LTTE but becouse we had to send our brothers , sisters ,fathers and mothers to OUR territorry up north to save those people from terrorism. I think we had ONE person who stood up to the world and said this is enogh hence your leader and a few others were shot . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zt6RVe18Cdg&feature=related
Its tamils like you who brain wash other innocent tamils and make it sound as if its a war on Tamils……its far from reality. Hope yor collecting lots of money :D
The contents in the article are really interesting and Dr. Seneviratna has credentials to write on such subject matter. I feel some of the comments given herein are not relevant, but written with some animosity towards his political inclining. This ragging menace is rampant in universities and schools of every standing. Something shall be done before it takes few more lives every now and then.
A M M Nizam
Dear Doctor,
You are an MBBS graduate of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ceylon, and you was an inmate of College House and Bloemfontein medical hostels.
How can you deny this?
Gamarala, This BS guy is living in denial. He now wants to come back to sri Lanka. So he is making a U-turn. he will say anything to deny whatever happened to him in his life.
thanks for sharing
Unlike Palitha Kohana, Dr. Brian Seneviratne is a true Thomian who has the courage to speak up.
Esto Perpetua!!
hear hear
dr seneviratne,
Braves are not born.outside world makes the brave.
you want bullied by the school and ur university.
Then that make you a traitor who doesn”t know what is going on beyond ur house walls
May lord have mercy on your poor soul
Hello Dancer,
If Mr. Senewiratne is a traitor, then what do you call for those 9 prefects. who humiliate the school children…Darlings…hey…hey…until it happen to your children Man…stop talking nonsense