SAITM misled cabinet of the former regime? - Premajayantha

South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) was established only as a technological and management institute. Therefore it is suspicious whether it misled the then Cabinet, Science, Technology and Research Minister Susil Premajayantha said yesterday.

Expressing his views at the Public Commission on SAITM, he said that it was questionable as to how a management institute mutated to a medicinal institution gradually.

“Matter is not ‘Management’ but how it turns into ‘Medicine’?” he queried.

He said everybody believed SAITM was awarding a Russian degree and students have to undergo ACT 16 examination according to the country’s accepted practice. However from time to time subject ministers’ arbitrary decision changed it to the present situation.

Minister Premajayantha said that the authorities cannot wash their hands by letting the court or any other institute to resolve the matter, as the subject authorities should take the responsibility for the issue.

“The country’s Constitution ensured the Right to Education. Therefore policy makers cannot act as deaf or blind. It is the Government’s responsibility to strengthen the State university body but today, the government is looking to escape its duty gently,” he said.

He said that the private sector is not strong enough to take a national level responsibility and the Government cannot set aside its duties. Therefore more manpower and resources should be provided to State universities.

Meanwhile, he suggested that the government should accept the proposals made by the Deans of the Medical Faculties and resolve the SAITM controversy immediately.