July 18, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Higher Education Ministry has banned the abhorrent practice of ragging in universities with immediate effect. Those who found guilty of such activities are to be expelled immediately from the respective university.

Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake has told the local media that Sri Lankan universities have brought disrepute to the country over the years as a result of 'dishonorable ragging.'

Dissanayake says that he would implement the delayed Act No: 20 of 1998 on university ragging with immediate effect.

Explaining further, the Minister observed that according to the university ragging act, six, seven or an eight year jail term would be the punishment for those who are found guilty.

He said that unless these laws were firmly implemented, it would be difficult to discipline university students.

Dissanayake further noted that students would only be allowed to stage protests in universities, but warned that if any one boycotts lectures in future it would be marked as absent and if their attendance is less than 80 percent at the end of each year, they would not be allowed to sit for exams.

The objectionable practice has come under sever criticism from the civil society as the ragging has caused several fatalities over the course of years at Sri Lankan universities. It has also increased suicide risks among the student population.