Rajapaksa calls for SAITM resolution

The standoff over the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) should be resolved in a just and reasonable manner without further delay, former president MP Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a statement yesterday.

Rajapaksa, who during his time allowed the opening of the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) and permitted it to recruit students despite repeated protests by the medical fraternity, said in a statement that the Government should seek to resolve the knotty issue so students could commence their studies. 

“However, the parties concerned complain that this pledge is not being implemented. The Government should ensure that there is no further disruption of medical education with university students taking to the streets and medical officers forced into taking trade union action on account of this disputed medical degree course,” he said.

Rajapaksa charged medical education in the country has been at a complete standstill since 2016.

“In a situation where the students who qualified to enter the medical faculties in 2016 have not yet commenced their courses, the students who passed the A/L examination in 2017 will also be awaiting entry into the medical faculties. Since clinical practice is mandatory in addition to lectures, medical faculties have difficulties in taking in a new batch without the previous one going on to the next stage,” Rajapaksa said.

He further said the continuation of this dispute over standards and accreditation in medical education could also place the international status of all Sri Lankan medical degrees at risk.