KDU (Special Provisions) Act effective July 6

The General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University [( KDU) Special Provisions] Act took effect from July 6, with Minister of Higher Education Wijedasa Rajapaksha declaring it the date on which the clauses of the Bill become operational.

The KDU Act lays down National policy relating to the absorption of students registered with the South Asian Institute of Technology & Medicine (SAITM) to the KDU.

The KDU ( Special Provisions) Bill vests powers with the University to absorb those students who have obtained basic qualifications from among the students who have registered with the SAITM between the period commencing September 15, 2009 and ending May 15, 2017, to the KDU, to follow the study programme leading to the award of the MBBS Degree ( KDU), as well as award the MBBS Degree (KDU) to those students who successfully complete their 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 to those students having basic qualifications and have completed the study programme leading to the award of the MBBS Degree at the SAITM.

The basic qualifications have been determined as minimum of ‘ S’ Grade (Simple) pass in Chemistry, Physics and Biology at the GCE ( Advanced Level) Exam 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 offered the subjects Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology.