S.B Lashes Out At JVP For ‘Slave Driving’ Students

By Raisa Wickrematunge

Minister of Higher Education S.B. Dissanayake accused the JVP of instigating ‘ragging’ of university students.
He made these comments when speaking to The Sunday Leader about the recently introduced leadership training programme titled The Leadership and Positive Attitude Development Programme, where university entrants receive training at military camps.
“They [JVP] provide their own leadership, and appoint the rag masters and coordinators,” Minister Dissanayake said, adding that the JVP was destroying the personality and leadership skills of students. He stated that the party was treating university students like ‘slaves’.
Dissanayake further said that though the UNP knew of the problem they also opposed the programme as they wanted to create unrest within the country.
“The students are very happy,” the Minister said of those who participated in the programme, which is jointly conducted with the Ministry of Defence.  Meanwhile, JVP MP Vijitha Herath denied Dissanayake’s claims. Herath said ragging was a normal practice which went on in the university premises. He emphasized, however, that the JVP did not carry out such acts and added that the party as a whole opposed the practice of ragging.
Herath went on to accuse the Government in turn of ‘physical and mental ragging’ by way of the new leadership training programme. He pointed to the case of a female university student who had received training at the Minneriya Army Camp. Herath said, “While physically training, she had some problems, and was admitted to the Polonnaruwa hospital.” He added that there were many other similar incidents reported from those participating in the programme. “The Government is using the military system to rule the country,” he said.