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Medical Council to meet tomorrow over controversial gazette
The Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) is scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss its future course of action regarding the controversial gazette notification issued by the Education Ministry.
The gazette notification amended the university regulations act, making it optional for institutions awarding degrees in the fields in Medicine, Engineering and Architecture, to obtain compliance certification from the relevant professional bodies.
When a number of professional bodies including the SLMC strongly objected to the revision stating that the move would jeopardise the quality of professionals, President Mahinda Rajapaksa intervened and ordered the gazette notification rescinded, which is yet to be effected by the Higher Education Ministry.
Meanwhile, the Federation of University Teachers’ Association (FUTA), is to write to the Higher Education Ministry demanding immediate action be taken to revoke the amendment, said FUTA General Secretary Dr. Rohan Fernando.
“We have been asking for a meeting with the Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne but he has not still given us an appointment. The letter we are to write will also demand a meeting immediately,” he said.
According Dr. Nawaratne steps have been taken to make the necessary changes to the gazette notification.
“We have sent our request to the Legal Draftsman, and are awaiting a reply. We have asked the wording to be changed from ‘may seek compliance certificates’ back to ‘shall,’” he told the Sunday Times.