President Maithripala Sirisena today said stern action would be taken against those who engage in ragging. 

Addressing a ceremony at the National Vocational Training Centre in Polonnaruwa, Sirisena said ragging should not be allowed in universities as it destroys the future of university students. 

He said nearly 150 students who get selected to government universities choose to stay away from the system due to ragging. 

"Over the past 25 years, 25 students have died due to ragging and thousands have suffered mentally and physically," he said. 

The President said the lives of the majority of state university students should be saved from an unruly minority. 

He also added that "certain political groups" were behind spreading barbarism in the state university system. 

While declaring war on ragging, Sirisena also said a comprehensive programme would soon be implemented to strengthen the state university system.