Russian Embassy expresses concern over Sri Lanka Medical Council move

• SLMC de-lists 3 prominent Russian State Universities from approved list
• Embassy says move was without prior information and despite regular dialogue
• Former SL National Health Services Directors General Dr. Anil Jasinghe and Dr. Hector Weerasinge alumni from one of the de-listed universities

The Cultural Section of the Russian Federation in a statement yesterday expressed concern over the decision by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) to remove three prominent Russian State Universities from the Approved List.

The statement said the three universities were People’s Friendship University of Russia (formerly known as Patrice Lumumba University), Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University and Tver State Medical University.

The statement said SLMC’s move was without prior information and despite the fact that SLMC had had several meetings with officials of these Russian universities who came down to Sri Lanka throughout the past years and regular payments to the SLMC were made by the universities in order to main the membership.

“With a history of over 50 years of diplomatic relations between the countries, Russia has been awarding Sri Lanka with scholarships from State universities for Sri Lankan students to pursue their higher education, resulting in producing numerous notable professionals in the country, especially in the medical field,” the statement said. 

The Cultural Section of the Russian Embassy expressed the hope that SLMC decision would not influence the practice of providing Russian State scholarships to Sri Lankan citizens in the future, causing a loss of opportunities to young individuals to pursue their higher education free of charge in prominent Russian universities.

Separately some of the alumnus from the de-listed Russian universities said the SLMC move was irrational and unfair. 

They said Former National Health Services Director General and now Environment Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe and Dr. Hector Weerasinge, the former Directors General of Health were from the People’s Friendship University of Russia (formerly known as Patrice Lumumba University).