Kotelawala Defence University to absorb SAITM students

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya certified the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (Special Provisions) Act this week which outlines the national policy relating to the absorption of students registered with the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) to the KDU.

The Bill was approved by Parliament mid-June and is expected to end the long running SAITM dispute.

The Special Provisions Bill vests powers with KDU to absorb those students who obtained basic qualifications of the students that registered with SAITM between September 15, 2009 and May 15, 2017, to follow the study programme leading to the awarding of the MBBS Degree ( KDU), as well as award the MBBS Degree ( KDU) to those students who successfully complete the study programme.

The Bill also gives powers to the KDU Board of Management to decide on the criteria to be employed by them to determine the conditions, subject to which, to award the MBBS degree.

The basic qualifications have been determined as an ‘S’ grade (Simple) pass in Chemistry, Physics and Biology at the G. C. E. ( Advanced Level) Examination conducted by the Examinations Department of the Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka, or an equivalent foreign qualification, including equivalent qualifications of students who have of fered the subjects Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology.