Ovitigala Vithanage Samantha aka Samantha Vithanage (died 2002) was a third year Management student of the

University of Sri Jayewardenepura ''Vijja Uppattam Setta'' , mottoeng = Among all that arise, knowledge is the greatest , established = , undergrad = 14,750 , postgrad = 3560 , administrative_staff = 3950 , cit ...

, Sri Lanka, who pioneered an anti-ragging campaign, and was killed on 7 November 2002 while in a discussion to stop the brutal practice of

ragging Ragging is the term used for the so-called " initiation ritual" practiced in higher education institutions in the Indian subcontinent, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The practise is similar to hazing in North America, in ...

in the faculty. His death was a landmark incident in the anti-ragging movement of Sri Lankan universities which provoked many students and academic staff of universities to act against

. On 7 November 2002, the anti-ragging campaigners sat down for a discussion with the pro-rag JVP controlled student council - ''General Students Union of University of Sri Jayawardanepura'' (Progressive Front), who defended the practice. The meeting took place at the premises of Department of Marketing Management. Midway through the discussion, a mob of around 200 JVP supporters armed with clubs and stones stormed into the room and viciously attacked Vithanage and others in the anti-ragging camp. The attackers stabbed their victims with shards of glass and Vithanage who was struck, fell to the floor. President of the General Students Union at that time, Sujith Kuruwita crashed a heavy computer monitor on his head. Vithanage was seriously injured. Pro-ragging students also blocked the vehicle carrying the injured to the hospital, delaying proper medical treatment. Two days later Samantha Vithanage died. The University Lecturers Association of the Sri Jayawardanapura University (SJU) denouncing the killing of Samantha had stated "This inhumane student slaughter is the most brutal killing and the worst black mark in the history of the SJU." Dr. Vikramabahu Karunaratne accused

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP; ) is a Marxist–Leninist communist party and a former militant organization in Sri Lanka. The movement was involved in two armed uprisings against the government of Sri Lanka: once in 1971 (SLFP), and anothe ...

- a Marxist-Leninist,

political party A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular country's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific ideological or p ...

for the murder. General Students Union of University of Sri Jayawardanepura is a member of the

Inter University Students' Federation Inter-University Students' Federation ( si, අන්තර් විශ්වවිද්‍යාලයීය ශිෂ්‍ය බලමණ්ඩලය , translit=Anthar Vishvavidyaleeya Shishya Balamandalaya) is a confederation of students' ...

, a students' union affiliated to SFP. Later, Samantha Vithagane fund was created in memory of the slain student Samantha Vithanage. Although the death of 22-year-old Vithanage subdued the rag at the

for a while, it has not totally eradicated the practice. After 20 years, in 2022, 7 out of the initially accused 22 individuals were sentenced to prison and fines.

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Anti-intellectual behaviour of university studentsJVP undergrads threatened me with death – Prof Nalin De Silva
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vithanage, Samantha Sri Lankan human rights activists Sri Lankan murder victims 2002 deaths Alumni of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura Ragging Year of birth missing

See also

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