Representatives of five more associations join to solve SAITM issue

The scope of the committee appointed to resolve the Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine ( SAITM) issue has been expanded to include five more associations, Deputy Minister of Po l i cy Planning and Economic Development Dr. Harsha de Silva said.

Accordingly the Government Medical Officers’ Association ( GMOA), the Federation of Medical Faculty Teachers’ Association, State University Parents Union, South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) Parents Association and the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) will be represented in this committee.

The Deputy Minister who heads the committee appointed by the President said that so far two lengthy discussions were held and there has been good progress.

“We are determined to find a solution by the December 31 deadline given by the President," he said.

Meanwhile Medical Faculty students in state run universities returned to lectures this week.

Peradeniya University Medical Faculty Dean Prof. Vajira Weerasinghe, told the Sunday Times that students had returned and lectures had resumed.

“From the 20th of this month everything got back to normal in the Medical Faculty and all activities are going on smoothly," Colombo University, Medical Faculty Dean Jennifer Perera said.

Commenting on the situation in the Jaffna University, Medical Faculty Dean Dr. S.Raviraj. said, "there have been no issues since they started lectures and we are hoping to welcome the new batch of students in the beginning of next year."

Meanwhile GMOA's assistant secretary Dr. Naveen De Soysa stated that if the Government’s solution is to establish a substandard institute, they would oppose it.

Medical Faculty Students’ Action Committee Convener Ryan Jayalath said that academic activities in the Medical faculties had returned to normal.

However, he said if the Government is still of the view that SAITM should prevail under a different institute comprising a new management, they were ready to strike once again.

“We will start what we stopped and this is a warning to the Government," he said.

He suggested that as a solution to the existing batches of SAITM students the Government should use the state university facilities to help them complete their degree and award degrees under the proposed Medical Faculty of the North Western University.

Meanwhile a spokesman for the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) said that a minimum standard for medical education has been finalised and the relevant gazette would be presented to Cabinet next week.