SAITM issue: Deans propose resolution

11 February 2017 11:53 am - 34 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Deans of medical faculties of eight universities have written to Higher Education Minister Lakshman Kiriella outlining suggestions to resolve the issue involving the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) in Malabe and the standards of the medical education in the country.

While stressing the need to mete out justice to the students currently studying at SAITM, the deans of the medical faculties of Colombo, Ragama, Karapitiya, Rajrata, Batticaloa, Jaffna, Peradeniya and Sri Jayawardenepura universities have pointed out that the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) has to be the authorized institution that would decide the standards of medical doctors and that its independence had to be safeguarded.

They have also said that it was imperative for the Health Minister to present the minimum standards prepared by the SLMC for medical colleges in Sri Lanka in the Parliament for them to be legalized. There must be a programme for the current students of the SAITM to obtain another few month's proper clinical training and the SLMC should conduct an examination in order to gauge the level of their knowledge thereafter, the medical faculty heads have suggested.

Those who would be successful in that examination should be provisionally registered with the SLMC so that they can carry on their internship training, the letter further stated.

However, the deans were of the view that enrollment of new students to SAITM should be temporarily suspended until the issue involving the private medical college is resolved.

They have expressed their fear on the possible damage that could be caused to the National Nurses Council and other such institutions in the medical field in case of independence of the SLMC being harmed in any manner.

Professor Jenifer Perera (Colombo), Professor Vajira Weerasinghe (Peradeniya), Professor Sarath Lekamwasam (Karapitiya), Dr. S.Raviraj (Jaffna), Professor Nilanthi de Silva (Ragama), Professor Surangi yasawardene (Sri Jayawardenepura), Dr. A. Arutpragasam (Batticaloa) and Professor Sisira Siribaddana (Rajarata) were the signatories of this letter.

When they met the minister at the Parliamentary complex on Wednesday to hand over the letter they had a brief discussion with the minister who had been accompanied by State Minister for Higher Education Mohan Lal Grero and Universities Grants Commission Chairman Professor Mohan de Silva. (Ranjan Kasturi)

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Comments - 34

P. Jayamanne Sunday, 12 February 2017 08:53 AM

The Govt. really needs to take measures to wind down the GMOA. They are a hindrance to the development of our nation largely due to a few in its administration.

sg Saturday, 11 February 2017 09:09 PM

This suggestions fairly good but should not stopped recruitment of students for the private medical college. if their any issues related recruitment that also can be shorted out through solutions. So, recruitment must continue.

sg Saturday, 11 February 2017 09:26 PM

But should not stopped recruitment's. If their any issues, it can be shorted out through new recommendations regarding recruitment s. Therefore, recruitment's must be continued..however.. this approach should be appreciated..

Silva Saturday, 11 February 2017 09:33 PM

While ensuring independence of SLMC is a good thing, it needs to reform and recover its credibility. The court ruled clearly that it has practiced double standards in this case.

goffy Saturday, 11 February 2017 10:12 PM

Yes. SAITM - M mean management and later fraudulently changed to medicine. via DM Android App

Bala Saturday, 11 February 2017 10:52 PM

Regret very much everyone seems to ignore SLMC are GMOA old boys and as Appeal Court judgement SLMC has used double standards. Please read full court judgement.

Ram Sunday, 12 February 2017 02:50 AM

SLMC can set up a tough exam and eliminate SAITM students. This is Idiotic. Why not SCMC hold one exam to students of all medical colleges as well as those qualify overseas? This is 100% fair

Mavn Sunday, 12 February 2017 04:59 AM

This is one side. On the other hand the 60% of the profit SAITM should be used in the SAITM. Not to Dr Nevil. Or SAITM should be taken over by the government. But those who study should pay a fee.

NIM Sunday, 12 February 2017 08:08 AM

Dean's children have to sit ERPM and they examine their own children

Abu Yahya Saturday, 11 February 2017 09:03 PM

Deans have proved that they have obtained quality education to arrive at a sensible solution probably acceptable for all. Welcome Deans. via DM iOS App

Nimali Sunday, 12 February 2017 10:28 AM

@ravin: "Sri Lankan doctors are making high standing in the world of medicine." Really? Doing what?

Patient Monday, 13 February 2017 09:23 AM

Whatever effort taken in this case should be appreciated. SAITAM should not be abandoned and it should proceed with high quality. whether it is SAITAM or government medical faculties, they teach western medicine. We have our own indigenous medicine and it is no second to western medicine. Why government is not promoting it?

upi Monday, 13 February 2017 01:25 PM

The suggestion of the deans is acceptable to end the double standards of the Rajapakhe regime who created this mess and the defense of this mess by the MR porter ,GL at the press conference. Why not MR give his suggestion without hiding at Medamulama.

yaha Monday, 13 February 2017 03:31 PM

SAITM is another SAKWITHI thats it, now it is going to be corrected at the cost of citizens, what about the money that SAITM has earned ??????TerribleSAKWITHI also did the same thing ...people who greedy invest on him, without looking at any risk. Later government should paid back to them at the cost of people . Is it right ??????????

sasi Monday, 13 February 2017 05:30 PM

What is the quality and standard in Batticaloa med fac? Even it is not named as a medical faculty. It is called as "Faculty Of Healthcare Sciences". So they do not have a right to talk about SAITM.

Reader Monday, 13 February 2017 06:00 PM

@Saman - please get your facts straight. SAITM has never offered an MBBS, they're offering an MD (Doctor of medicine) which is what they are authorised to offer, under the Health Science stream. This is similar to the degree offered by the University of Uva.

Rommel Monday, 13 February 2017 08:23 PM

Hope Trump will get an idea ,To cancell out all the Green Card Holders who are in Politics or in the Government service in the third world countries and poor countries,Half these protesters get their treatment even for a simple cold or fever from Singapore or USA or UK.They will also will not go to China

Punchi Banda Saturday, 11 February 2017 05:23 PM

What would be the case with the Kothalawela Defense University's Medical Faculty???? the same should apply to them as well

ravin Saturday, 11 February 2017 12:20 PM

This suggestion may be fair by all. What mistake made by past must be corrected at some stage rather than making mockery and end up with high drama. As it is Sri Lankan doctors are making high standing in the world of medicine. The issue at present is poor clinical standard/experience by SAITM students. As those professors suggest until such time all issues iron out no fresh enrollments to be made to SAITM is also fair.

Dr.Goonathilake Saturday, 11 February 2017 12:58 PM

No one protested when SAITM was initiated during the previous regime.The patriotic GMOA too was silent.Now there seems to be a different agenda. via DM Android App

Dayan Saturday, 11 February 2017 03:05 PM

Seems bit fair.......there is a room to have more constructive negotiations, if sit with Deans, GMOA and final decision makers.

wickremasinghe Saturday, 11 February 2017 04:12 PM

Please do not forget that ,when SAITM was created it was not a medical college.Dilip

chamithroshanwijenayake Saturday, 11 February 2017 04:19 PM

Entry requirements should be made tough. At least 03 "B" passes in GCE(A/L) Bio Science stream would be ideal. Apart from the quality standard in curriculum should be up graded with competetive practical exposure.After completion of the MBBS Degree all graduates should be requred to sit for ERPM to register as Medical Practitioners.

Saman Adikari Saturday, 11 February 2017 05:00 PM

As long as SITAM has cheated students and public citizens of that offering MBBS degree by collecting billons of rupees by Neville Fernando must bring before the court of law on Criminal Offences,.Neville Fernando must be charge by AG dept. in court of law by broken promised was never exist suitable for MBBS degree! Punished him that criminal offense by that Neville F... misused MISDEEDS Funds of that citizens of this country.SITAM has no authority to award MBBS degree at any cost.Which is undermined MBBS degree by current UNP COMPROMISED GOVT.

camrox Saturday, 11 February 2017 05:18 PM

Very reasonable and fair proposal offered by the Deans. The Governing body should be the SLMC and the degree offered by SAITM should open for scrutiny. The final exam should be a common one.

Anula Peramune Saturday, 11 February 2017 05:19 PM

According to human capital theory education too can be ultimately used to make a profit. The GMOA logic is highly hypocritical and rather old fashioned.our country cannot move ahead with such people.

Marie Saturday, 11 February 2017 12:07 PM

Excellent. Mr. President please take this advise.

Nish Saturday, 11 February 2017 05:27 PM

Just a wild accusation. In 2012 the SLMC specifically pointed out that SAITM has quality issue. It is the SAITM that ignored the ruling.

Thepanis Saturday, 11 February 2017 05:29 PM

Sounds like finally these guys have come to senses. Students, GMOA and JVP behave like thugs protesting and blocking roads but no one bothered to make any constructive criticism. Suggestions by the deans is a way forward and hope the lunatics would look at this favorably.A/L is a measure of one's ability to memorize not a measure of intelligence. There are many intelligent students who do not get As but can excel in life. If one goes by A/L type exams, there wouldn't be Apple, Microsoft, Dell etc today.

Rohantha Saturday, 11 February 2017 05:38 PM

The most fair solution will be to have a common exam to all final year students , whether they are from state or private. If the government can conduct common exam for GCE O/L n A/L all over srilanka , why not for this. Then people will know who are more knowledgable.

Ajith Saturday, 11 February 2017 05:54 PM

Agree to the proposals in general. However we should not close down SAITM. If any shortcomings, those should be corrected. We need this private medical college which will increase the number of doctors in the country and also save valuable foreign exchange. May bring in foreign students too. Said that, necessary standards are to be maintained at any cost. That's up to the relevant authorities.

Ape Rate eththo Saturday, 11 February 2017 06:43 PM

All these deans unanimously welcome KDU without any hindrance. What is the double standards? All these deans opposed SAITM mercilessly up to this point. But once the court verdict is out the so called 'deans' are coming out with their 'suggestions'. In Sri Lanka court verdict can be ignored, isn't it?

AA Saturday, 11 February 2017 08:30 PM

you have probably forgotton that was an era of fear and terror. Everybody has freedom now (too much infact) to express their opinions

ajith Saturday, 11 February 2017 08:53 PM

Remember all other government Unis started without medical faculties and came later You don' t know the pat history of education

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SAITM issue: Deans propose resolution

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