Vice Chancellor of the Kelaniya University, Professor Sunanda Madduma Bandara said all the universities in the country will fully implement the Charter signed by the Commonwealth University Union and the University Grants Commission to eliminate ragging and violence against women from the 12th of this month.

Addressing a media briefing held to brief the media about the recent ragging incident at the Kelaniya University, the Vice Chancellor said the Kelaniya University will take action first to implement the Charter.

He said the decision had to be taken since ragging has subjected the incoming students to severe mental stress and made some students to leave the universities. Further the universities want to take action against the abuse of professors and threats made against the teachers by the students, he said.

He said they have discussed the students' unacceptable behavior in the university setting with the student union leaders and asked the unions to instruct the students but the approach has not worked. The actions by few students tarnish the image of the Sri Lankan universities, the Vice Chancellor added.

He said under the Universities act, the offenders can be sentenced to two to five years in prison.

"We don't want to punish the students, we want to direct them to the right path. From now on we will not inquire into complaints, we will direct the complaints of ragging or other assaults to the police," the administrator said.

The Vice Chancellor said that a committee has been formed to prevent ragging in the University and stressed that the ragging will not be allowed in the Kelaniya University.

He said that the re-opening of the university would be decided following the Senate Meeting which is scheduled to be held on Tuesday.