President Ranil Wickremesinghe has urgently ordered all relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the assault on the former Vice Chancellor of the Peradeniya University Prof. Athula Senaratne and take necessary action, the President’s Media Division reported. 

Former Vice Chancellor of the Peradeniya University Prof. Athula Senaratne was assaulted by a group near his official residence and hospitalised due to injuries on December 10. 

The attack had been carried out following an argument with Prof. Senaratne, stating that his son’s car had collided with a parked motorcycle.  

Then, a group of around 300 university students had attacked and damaged the official residence of Prof. Senaratne, and Peradeniya Police had managed to disperse the crowd later.

Five including the former Vice Chancellor’s wife and two other individuals who were in the house were reportedly injured during the attack. Prof. Athula Senaratne, who was injured in the attack, had been admitted to the Peradeniya Hospital while his son was admitted to the Kandy Teaching Hospital, following the incident.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Terrance Madujith today (Dec. 12) stated that an inquiry was launched on university level regarding the incident, and that subsequently 12 students have been suspended, pending investigations.

He said that the 12 students in question were identified after observing CCTV camera footage of the incident and that the decision to suspend them will be implemented pending the completion of the inquiry into the matter. 

He added that investigations will be conducted regarding the other students involved in the incident.

Speaking at a press briefing at the university today (12), the Deputy Vice Chancellor said that university authorities, the disciplinary officer, the members of the security department will cooperate with the police and identify the students involved in the incident and execute legal proceedings.

However, the Deputy Vice Chancellor further said that they strongly condemned this attack as university lecturers.