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SLMC refuses to register 30 SAITM students

7 June 2016 07:22 am - 18     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) has reportedly refused to register the first batch of 30 medical students, who had passed out from the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM).

The aggrieved students are said to be preparing a petition seeking redress to be filed in the Supreme Court. The SAITM has been functioning amid protests by some medical professionals and students’ unions of State universities.

When asked for his views on this matter, Higher Education Minister Lakshman Kiriella told Daily Mirror that he hoped the Supreme Court would mete out justice to the students concerned.

He said about 700 students were studying for their medical degrees at SAITM and were anxiously awaiting a ruling from the SC so that this matter would be resolved once and for all.

The minister said SAITM was a degree-awarding institution recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

“SAITM students are in this predicament because of the actions of the previous regime. It is now the responsibility of the present government to solve this matter,” he said and added that the government encouraged private sector involvement to develop the higher education sector.

“That is how other countries have developed. With World Bank assistance, we hope to introduce quality assurance at State Universities and non-State Higher Education Institutions,” the minister said. “Today, only 17 per cent of Advanced Level students are admitted to State universities. Students who excel in their A/L studies have been denied access to universities because of the prevailing quota system for underprivileged districts. For example, a student who sits the A/L examination in Colombo and obtains distinctions in all subjects may not be eligible to enter a university while a student with lesser qualifications from an underprivileged district enters the university.” (Kelum Bandara)


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  Comments - 18

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  • Ajja Tuesday, 07 June 2016 11:03 AM

    Come on SLMC don't penalize them simply because they are graduated from SAITM after all they will not go behind money like you guys who strike in government hospitals and carry on private practice.These fellows i am sure are rich enough and will do a better job.

    citizen Thursday, 09 June 2016 05:54 AM

    SLMC is utopian ideology under thumb of GMOA. District quota gets average A/L into Colombo Medical Faculty who feel insecure as Colombo good A/L are cut off. So these even sell property to pay and get the education they were cheated of by state low levels. District quotas in Colombo panic in guilt and strike. Solution is to have more private medical schools and relieve congestion and let district quotas get their free state education in Colombo

    ran Wednesday, 08 June 2016 05:16 PM

    all the objecting (SLMC) others since they got the free entrance to the university they don't feel the pain of students who got better result then some who came from other districts. my opinion should cut down the the free entrane and make majority percentage paying than more can accommodate

    Sangaralingham Wednesday, 08 June 2016 09:25 AM

    It is morally necessary all those qualified in an accredited institution must be registered by the medical council of the country as per its regulations guidelines.

    Giabao Tuesday, 07 June 2016 07:15 PM

    What a contradictionary statement.... How can the minister pass the buck to supreme court. Hilarious.

    ashoka Tuesday, 07 June 2016 12:59 PM

    Still the Judiciary of the country is reliable. The supreme court will rectify this issue I hope.

    Chandima Tuesday, 07 June 2016 11:51 AM

    How can the SLMC objection becomes a public objection? Nuts....

    Ritu Tuesday, 07 June 2016 11:31 AM

    Well Done Mr Minister.... we should not undermine these students.These students pay for their education unlike the students from the State Universities where education is FREE and still they go on strikes,go on to ragging and waste our hard earned money by stagnating themselves in the Universities.

    Cobra Tuesday, 07 June 2016 11:03 AM

    If there were any children of those who are heading the SLMC among the 30 this would not come to pass. Poor kids, give them a break!

    Amal Tuesday, 07 June 2016 08:38 AM

    Bring same or better standards to private unis. then problem will be solved.

    Chamara Tuesday, 07 June 2016 11:01 AM

    Yes, they undergo accreditation process and SLMC maintains a list of registered universities and also students have to pass ERPM to register at SLMC.exam

    Horizon Tuesday, 07 June 2016 10:53 AM

    International schools have far better education than local schools where education is rather very poorFor E.g loon at you people

    Horizo Tuesday, 07 June 2016 10:51 AM

    Ha ha international schools have far better education system than the local system. Says much about your knowledge about anything

    Bingo Tuesday, 07 June 2016 09:36 AM

    India for treatment?

    Harry Tuesday, 07 June 2016 09:24 AM

    Amal - your suggestion is good but what is the authority to standardize these institutes? It would be like our present International schools without and control or standard!. Again when a child goes abroad and get his qualifications does Sri Lankan authorities check the standards of those institutes?

    Jimmy Tuesday, 07 June 2016 09:16 AM

    Standards have to be maintained, or anyone with political backing can award a degree and say that the students have to be registered as doctors. You are playing with lives of patients who cannot afford to get treatment in India or Singapore. Bit again what do you guys care.

    Bingo Tuesday, 07 June 2016 09:00 AM

    Well done to SLMC. This SAITAM joke should be abolish for good. Otherwise SL health system will be disgusting as in any other South Asian country with less brainy with bit of money becoming so called "Doctors" who cannot make a rational or analytical decision. for the Gods sake lets hope Supreme Court judges have some education(and also not under politicos pocket) and have seen how developed world runs their health systems.

    naveen Tuesday, 07 June 2016 08:53 AM

    They didn't continue amidst protests of "some doctors and university students". They continued amidst repeated public objections from Sri Lanka Medical Council. State governing body of medical profession of Sri Lanka.They were illegal fron the outest and continues to be illegal.


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