Rash Decision on KDU Medical Intake to Cost Billions and Block Local Talent

The sudden decision by the Government to suspend admissions of local G.C.E. (A/L) qualified students to the Medical Degree programme at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) this year is deeply concerning. This abrupt move not only bars hundreds of capable students from pursuing a medical career locally but also results in a projected revenue loss of nearly Rs. 2 billion.  

This decision is fundamentally flawed for several reasons:

Limited Capacity in State Universities: Our national universities are already struggling with limited intake capacities. KDU has provided an alternative pathway for qualified students who would otherwise have no opportunity to enter a state medical faculty, despite meeting the eligibility requirements.

Foreign Exchange Drain: Preventing students from studying medicine at KDU will inevitably push many to seek education abroad. This will trigger a significant outflow of foreign currency, further straining the country’s already fragile economy.

I earnestly request Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who is in charge of Education, to reconsider and reverse this decision. KDU must be allowed to continue its Medical Degree programme for local students, provided that its entry criteria are equal to or more stringent than those of other state universities, and that its students undergo the same government-conducted examinations and internships as their counterparts.

This is not merely an administrative decision—it is one that impacts lives, futures, and the national interest.

Mohamed Zahran

Colombo