The body was found hanging on a tree in the Peradeniya University premises yesterday. Police assume the student has committed suicide nearly one and a half weeks ago.

Speaking to ‘Asian Mirror’, a senior Police officer said the student might have committed suicide due to ragging. He was also a witness of a ragging incident in 2011.

The body was found by a group of Boy Scouts yesterday who were engaged in a field work near the Marcus Fernando Hall of the University of Peradeniya. Some university officials under the condition of anonymity told ‘Asian Mirror’ that the student had come under heavy pressure from the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) for being a witness of the ragging incident.

Meanwhile, a member of the academic staff of the University of Peradeniya said it was still too early to conclude that it was a suicide.

When contacted by ‘Asian Mirror’, Najith Indika, Convener of the IUSF, distanced the federation from the death saying the student might have committed suicide due to pressure arising from studies.

“Some elements are trying to ‘politicize’ this death and attempting to suppress the IUSF. I categorically state that the IUSF has nothing to do with this incident, “ Indika said.

Police investigations into the death are underway.