11 individuals who ragged the Sabaragamuwa student, causing him to become disillusioned with life and commit suicide, have been expelled from the university.

It was the greatest hope in a father's life to see his son, who studied at the Faculty of Technology of Sabaragamuwa University, one day go to work dressed in the uniform of the Laxapana Power Plant. However, that dream ended when Charith Dilshan, a 23-year-old young man, took his own life in a chicken coop at his home in Ihala Gama, Gampola.

Following his death, the Governing Council of Sabaragamuwa University recently took a firm decision regarding the inhumane ragging incident alleged to have caused the tragedy.

Based on the recommendations of the official investigation report into Charith's death, which caused widespread shock across the country, the Governing Council has decided to completely expel eleven students from the university and revoke the student status of three other students. As confirmed by a senior official of the university administration, all fourteen students concerned have now been officially informed of this decision. Accordingly, their registration will be permanently canceled, and they will no longer be entitled to any rights or privileges accorded to an internal student.

Furthermore, these students are strictly prohibited from entering or remaining on the university premises, faculties, hostels, or any property owned by the university without the prior written permission of the Vice-Chancellor. This serious disciplinary action is based on the report provided by a special committee appointed to investigate acts of indiscipline, including harassment, physical and psychological threats against the deceased student and other students.

The beginning of this tragedy is marked in April 2025. Charith, who was a second-year student in the Faculty of Engineering Technology, had gone to the university on April 26th with the aim of resolving an issue related to his Mahapola scholarship. It was later revealed that a group of senior students had inhumanely tortured him that day, primarily because he was wearing shorts within the university premises.

As Charith's mother revealed to the media, her son was beaten with belts, stripped, and severely harassed that day. On April 28th, he told his aunt, who had come home, that he had been tied up, made to wear shorts, dragged into a room, and had his head banged against a wall in front of others. She recalled that his eyes were filled with tears even as he recounted this.

After that inhumane experience, Charith returned home in severe mental distress. He avoided even looking at his family members and finally committed suicide on April 29, 2025. A letter written by him about the mental distress he faced before his death was also found by the police. His mother tearfully stated that he had not betrayed anyone and had only noted that he had mental stress without a reason.

Charith's father stated that Charith had been subjected to ragging throughout his two years at the university. With his mother's plea that what happened to her son should not happen to any other child, a comprehensive investigation into this incident was launched.

Based on complaints made by Charith's father, a close student of his, and a group of other students to the Samanalawewa Police, the Criminal Investigation Department and the Police jointly launched a special investigation. As an initial step, 16 suspected students were summoned and questioned at the Samanalawewa Police on May 2nd, and subsequently, 14 students suspected of involvement in the incident were arrested and charged. The Ministry of Higher Education also appointed a special team in this regard, and authorities once again emphasized that ragging is a crime in Sri Lanka.

The university system in this country has a bitter history of students committing suicide due to torture. With the tragic fate of Charith Dilshan, the complete loss of educational rights for the 14 students identified by official investigations as responsible provides a silent but powerful testament to how destructive the consequences of student ragging can be.