26 trainee teachers arrested for ragging

The Veyangoda police on Sunday arrested 26 students of the Siyane National College of Education on suspicion of ragging and produced them in the Attanagalla Magistrate’s Court.

The Acting Magistrate S. Abeygunawardana released them on personal bail of Rs. 25,000 each.

The students are accused of ragging freshers and assaulting those who protested against the ragging. The clash that ensued on Saturday (7) between the two groups of students left 23 freshers injured.

The injured students were admitted to the Wathupitiwala Base Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.  The suspects have been banned entry to the college until the authorities grant them permission to do so.  A disciplinary investigation is to be commenced soon regarding the incident.

Siyane National College of Education is one of the 18 pre-service teacher training colleges of Sri Lanka producing teachers to the national school system. (www.colombopage.com)