University Faculty Identified as Drug Distribution Centre, Says Prime Minister

21-Dec-2025

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Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya stated that intelligence reports indicate that a university faculty is being used as a central hub for drug distribution. She warned that if such activities and abuse carried out under the guise of “ragging” are not stopped, the university system cannot be protected.

Speaking at an event held at the Ministry of Education on Dec 20, she said it is deeply concerning that ragging is still being discussed in 2025. 

If ragging is considered necessary to maintain university culture, it represents a serious problem. Everyone from vice chancellors to office staff claims there is no ragging in their universities.

Yet students die and drop out. Are these incidents invisible to everyone? What is happening today cannot even be called ragging. It involves brutal violence and abuse beyond ragging. Students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds are the ones most affected.

She stated this cannot be tolerated, making intervention essential. Intelligence information, including names, has been received regarding drug distribution within a university faculty. If this cannot be immediately controlled, the university system cannot be safeguarded.

She called on everyone to work together to eradicate abuse carried out in the name of ragging and to completely eliminate drug use.