SABOTAGE OF GOVT POLICIES AND PLANS

In terms of article (2) (h) of Chapter VI under the title “Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Duties” of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, State is pledged to establish in Sri Lanka a Democratic Socialist Society the objective of which includes the complete eradication of illiteracy and the assurance to all persons of the right to universal and equal access to education at all levels. The educational policy of Yahapalanaya is based on above principle. 

It may be noted that State is capable of providing this service free of charge only for a limited number of students who sat successfully for their A/Levels, due to restrictions of resources and facilities available for this purpose. The State is compelled to set a cut-off point on marks to be secured at A/ Level for admission to medical faculties of State universities in order to suit the capacity available at State universities. As a result, thousands of students who have successfully completed A/Levels have been deprived of entering State universities. In that context, active participation of private sector education institutes and universities to cater to the needs of students who are so deprived of education free of charge is absolutely necessary. SAITM is one of the pioneering institutes that came forward to share the responsibility and the burden of the State on implementation of State Policy on education and to cater to the needs of students who are deprived of higher education which includes medicine as well at State run universities due to no-fault on their part. 

SAITM has been established under section 17 of BOI Law No. 4 of 1978. It is a fully fledged BOI project. It has obtained UGC approval to award MBBS Degree. It has affiliated to Russian Universities abroad where medical degrees have been recognized by the SLMC subject to the condition that they should satisfy the standard imposed by the SLMC for practising the medical profession in this country. In addition, the Minister of Health in terms of power vested with him/her in Medical Ordinance has gazette, granting approval for it to conduct the MBBS Degree course subject to standard set for same by the SLMC. SAITM has complied with standard set by the SLMC amidst a gamut of allegations levelled against it. In that process SAITM has set up its own hospital which provides facilities needed for MBBS course practicals, in addition to two State hospitals allocated on charging of fee of Rs.50,000 per student. 

Contrary to all these compliances followed by SAITM, the SLMC turned down application submitted by MBBS Degree holders of SAITM for registration at the SLMC to enable them to practice their profession. This act of the SLMC was challenged at Court of Appeal as it appears it is tantamount to a gross violation of right to access to education. Judgement given by Court of Appeal ordering the SLMC to get them registered has cleared the negative picture created by the GMOA against SAITM. 
Entry qualifications required for MBBS course of SAITM on par with average entry qualifications required for the same in most of the recognized universities all over the world. Marks needed to secure at A/Level Bio-stream by students from remote areas who entered medical faculties of State run Universities under District quota system seemed below the level of marks of students entered from developed areas to follow MBBS course at SAITM. Allegation which says that students who followed A/L Commerce are also could enroll for MBBS course at SAITM is a diabolic lie fabricated by the GMOA. On our survey, I found there is no iota of truth on above allegation. 

Teaching staff attached to medical faculty of SAITM consists of well qualified and well experienced lecturers, senior lecturers, professors who were or who are attached to medical faculties of State universities. In that context how could the GMOA say that teaching staff attached to medical faculty of SAITM is poor in quality when compared to the teaching staff attached to medical facilities of State Universities? 

The allegation caused by the GMOA that standard of medical profession would be jeopardized drastically if SAITM, MBBS degree holders were allowed to register at the SLMC seems malicious and false presumption due the fact that medical profession has already been jeopardized in the hand of the GMOA. Whilst criticizing the ‘SAITM MBBS’ degree course in that manner, the GMOA is silent over the increase of malpractices and medical negligence caused by some of the association’s members at State hospitals. 

It is suggested that State can introduced a new mechanism for standardizing and accreditation of MBBS courses conducted by both State run Universities as well as SAITM. This mechanism should be assigned to an independent and apex body consisting of representation from all stake holders of the health sector. Remember, in this process the SLMC is already prejudiced over SAITM issue unless it is challenged at the Supreme Court by aggrevated partycould be considered contempt of court.

The GMOA has dragged student population against government over SAITM issue. It has launched further campaign to drag masses of this country as well against government over this issue which could ultimately cripple the Government. The GMOA has infringed right of SAITM students to have free access to education. Its Trade Union action has caused a threat to the Government which represents masses and also jeopardized education of university students. 

Forgetting its boundaries and limits, the GMOA has also challenged certain economic development plans and policies of the Government such as proposed Free Trade Agreements, ETCA, and Taxation policies etc. which are considered out of the ambit of GMOA being a trade union. 

In the meantime, it has also been observed that some elements that had extended their support for SAITM during past regime have been now shifted their support against it, in convenience with the GMOA. 

In the above context, it is clear that the GMOA has lunched an unwarranted and unjustifiable campaign against Government behind SAITM issue on the pretext of safeguarding medical profession which in reality jeopardized medical profession as well.