SAITM abolishment: Students uncertain about their future

The students of SAITM said yesterday they faced a stark uncertainty about their future with the government deciding to abolish SAITM.

SAITM Medical Graduates Association (SMGA) Co-convener Dilshan Fernando told a news conference that there were 81 medical graduates who had enrolled with SAITM in 2009 and 2010 and graduated in 2016 and 2017 respectively, and another 900 students were studying in SAITM at the moment.

“With the government’s decision to abolish SAITM, we face a grave situation about our future. After ten months of boycotting lectures, the students of the State medical faculty have resumed their academic activities. They have to finish their studies and take up their careers. Graduates and students of SAITM are yet to receive a promise from the government securing their future after completing eight long years of medical education and training,” he said.

SMGA Co-convener Tharindu Ruwanpathiranage said this mental trauma had been extremely distressing for the poor graduates and students. “If these students resort to drastic

Graduates and students of SAITM are yet to receive a promise from the government securing their future

action, the responsibility should be borne by all parties responsible for our future as Sri Lankan citizens who enrolled in a UGC certified programme. As the most affected party in this crisis, we have continuously requested a hearing with President Maithripala Sirisena and the Presidential Committee. We are utterly disappointed by the fact that all other parties have been heard except us,” he said.