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University Grants Commission - Sri Lanka

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Message of the Chairman of the University Grants Commission

"Being the Chairman of the University Grants Commission, I am pleased to inform the release of the ‘Report on Prevalence of Ragging and Sexual and Gender Based Violence in the Sri Lankan State Universities”. This is a report which addresses a timely and alarming issue in the state universities in Sri Lanka and funded by the UNICEF.

On the pretext of continuing a culture to create a sense of belonging and camaraderie, the ragging culture has continued for decades resulting in disruption of education, discrimination, injuries and deaths, and mental scars that last a lifetime. This began in the universities of the developed world in the past but unfortunately now continues in the universities of the global south. At present the nature and consequences often create a toxic learning/working environment.

In the recent past there was a growing concern on prevalence of ragging and sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in State Universities in Sri Lanka. At this point, Center for Gender Equity and Equality/ University Grants Commission initiated a system wide research study to understand the prevalence of ragging and SGBV because the University Grants Commission keeps a zero tolerance not only over such menace of ragging but also on SGBV as well.

Findings highlighted the nature of diversity in university cultures and how inclusivity can be used to minimize prevalence of ragging and SGBV in state universities in Sri Lanka.Findings of this study paved the way to develop interventions that are aiming at mitigating ragging and SGBV in State Universities. We believe that the interventions that have been implemented by the Center for Gender Equity and Equality/ University Grants Commission will facilitate to develop awareness among the members of the university community regarding the significance of valuing diversity and inclusion to ensure quality of education and well-being of all the members in State University communities in Sri Lanka."