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JO defends scholarships given to students to enter SAITM

8 February 2017 08:12 pm - 22     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Joint Opposition (JO) today defended the awarding of full scholarships to students to study medical degree offered by SAITM during the previous government’s tenure.

Addressing the weekly news briefing Prof. G.L. Peiris said awarding a scholarship to study a degree was different from recognizing the degree as an authenticated profession.

He made these remarks as a response to a question whether it was appropriate to award scholarships to study in a university when the medical degree was not accredited by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC).

On Tuesday, a Fundamental Rights petition filed by two medical students of SAITM was fixed for support on March 27 by the Supreme Court.

The students including one who was recommended by the former government for a full scholarship to follow the MBBS Degree at SAITM had sought a declaration to null and void a Medical Service Minute issued in 2014 by the Public Service Commission recommending that only graduates of State universities and foreign universities are eligible to join the government service.

“The then Higher Education Minister gave the scholarship on two conditions. The conditions made to improve the quality of the university have not been fulfilled so far by SAITM. The SLMC repeatedly said the SAITM medical degree was not accepted. Even the then Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said the ministry doesn’t accept the private university’s medical degree,” he said.

He said awarding scholarships was not a measure of hoodwinking anyone as both the government and the scholarship recipients were aware the fact that the SAITM’s medical degree was not accepted by SLMC.

The Professor said a 10-member committee was appointed by SLMC in 2015 to look into the standard of the private university at Malabe and the committee had recommended that the training offered throughout the degree programme was insufficient.

He said Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne who is liable to implement the SLMC recommendations, had not taken any steps with regard to the recommendations so far.

“The Minister is bound to implement the recommendations on the SAITM made by the SLMC. All he has to do is to take the matter in Parliament and then issue an order to implement these recommendations. Parliament can’t move away from the responsibility as this is a matter which has an impact on the entire health sector and the country,” he said. (Lahiru Pothmulla)


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  Comments - 22

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  • Bala Thursday, 09 February 2017 07:49 AM

    Nonsense because his Godfather MR nurtured SAITM by helpiing it secure Rs.600M loan an gave 10 scholarships to 10 students to study at SAITM and issued two gazettes recognising it. He was in that Cabinet then. Hypocrite.

    Indrapathy Thursday, 09 February 2017 06:28 PM

    How stupid this fellow can get. He is nit picking.What is the point in awarding a scholarship to get a degree that is not recognized?Its a waste. It is rank stupidity. He should be in Angoda - permanently

    Mohan1986 Thursday, 09 February 2017 04:25 PM

    We have to look at present and future. No one can correct the past. Sri Lankan government should pass an act for private universities, lay down the quality standard and establish a monitoring institution.

    Suranimal Thursday, 09 February 2017 11:43 AM

    Well said.

    jaypee Thursday, 09 February 2017 09:09 AM

    Politics in this country is a disgrace. Whether it is UNP or JVP or SLFP when they do not have power they always support the Strikers, Protests

    Shelly. Thursday, 09 February 2017 09:03 AM

    MR keeps different type of stooges to put forward for different purposes. Can anyone immagine how a Professor become such a stooge. via DM Android App

    desilco Thursday, 09 February 2017 08:44 AM

    WHY ARE YOU PEOPLE PLAYING WITH THE LIVES OF SRI LANKAS FUTURE , THE CHILDREN.WHY CANT YOU PEOPLE THINK ABOUT ' HOW CAN WE DO THIS RIGHT' INSTEAD OF ALL THE TIME SAYING LIKE THE JVP " EVERYTHING IS WRONG"THE COUNTRY MUST PROGRESS, MAKE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM.

    WISE DONKEY Thursday, 09 February 2017 08:25 AM

    Learned professor please tell me whether there is any sense in granting scholarship to learn an unrecognized degree? You are trying to say is that what you did is right and what others do is wrong. Please don't ruin the students by involving them in politics. They are never found in lecture room but on the streets carrying banners.

    laksiri Thursday, 09 February 2017 08:15 AM

    this man needs to go hospital for mental entrapment if he wish to stay in the parliament. giving scholarship student to carry out studies in the unrecognized place in the country ?????what kind of answers that

    Leo Thursday, 09 February 2017 07:51 AM

    Have the MCQ examination. We can then decide if SAITM students are qualified or not. Yet wonder if the state uni students will accept this. If they dont we will know why. via DM Android App

    Sofia Thursday, 09 February 2017 07:52 AM

    Yes all itelligent people I have come across dismiss him as a rank hypocrite and laug and laugh at his attempt to prop up MR.

    Ajith Wednesday, 08 February 2017 08:39 PM

    You are a real joker. You don't recognize the university but give scholarships to study there so the students will end up with a useless degree after studying their heart out for 5 years or so. professor, you are a disgrace to your profession.

    Kadiya Thursday, 09 February 2017 07:32 AM

    No one understands his senile logic anymore!!!

    eskay Thursday, 09 February 2017 07:14 AM

    When you do not recognize the degree as an authenticated profession what is the sense in giving a scholarship.

    Citizen Thursday, 09 February 2017 06:06 AM

    Professors too get demented after sometime, as happens to many humans. Look at Carlo Fonseka, involving himself in court cases and then doing the "Contempt" stuff. Retire or get locked up. Cant remain the 'idol'

    Burt Wednesday, 08 February 2017 11:17 PM

    Time for this senile professor to protect what ever dignity that is left and go into retirement.He sees everyone around him as fools but does not realize that he is laughed at.

    raj Wednesday, 08 February 2017 11:06 PM

    whatever said was done when you were in power, you have not done anything to rectify it then , but only shouting now> Have you just woken up from a deep sleep

    DN Wednesday, 08 February 2017 10:49 PM

    Is any one can understand logic of lying by the professor ? .

    AA Wednesday, 08 February 2017 10:48 PM

    These guys are really funny. They have had a long sleep and got up.

    M.Basnayake Wednesday, 08 February 2017 09:22 PM

    Do these shameless bunch of fools listen to themselves. Or perhaps they are just delusional.

    Crocy Wednesday, 08 February 2017 09:02 PM

    GL is speaking some sense after a long time.

    dilip Wednesday, 08 February 2017 08:59 PM

    Watch the program Wada pitiya dated 07/02/2017. The history of the SAITM is well explained. Dilip.


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