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Govt. to amend KDU Act to absorb 982 SAITM undergrads
The Government is to effect amendments to the existing Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Act (1981), to enable the 982 SAITM students to be absorbed into the KDU. This will be put forward at the next Cabinet meeting on Tuesday (22), Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe told the Sunday Times.
Meanwhile, SAITM students are concerned by the Government’s failure to inform them on the progress, in response to their queries.
SAITM Student Action Committee Secretary Chathushka Rambukwella said that while they were happy that something was finally happening and a Cabinet paper to absorb them into the KDU was approved, there were other things they needed to clarify, including but not limited to, when the proposed solution would materialise.
“The approval of a Cabinet paper is not the end of our problems. And now, there is a new Cabinet paper to amend the KDU Act. Maybe this is the Legal procedure, but it is the Government’s responsibility to let us know exactly what is going on. So far, what we know is through the media and other third party sources,” said Mr Rambukwella.
He said the students had many questions that needed clarifying from the Government and other authorities.
“Our main concern is to have a definite answer from the Government, on when the solution would be implemented,” he said.
Also of concern to the students is that of payment.
Mr. Rambukwella said it would be unfair to expect the students who have paid their fees in full to SAITM, to pay again.
“Ten of the 14 batches have already paid their fees in full. The Government hasn’t told us anything about what happens to such students. We hope to discuss this as well as some terms and conditions regarding our admission to the KDU, for which, so far, we haven’t been able to schedule an appointment with any official.”
Another issue concerns the two batches that have already graduated.
SAITM Medical Graduates Association Co-Convener Tharindu Ruwanpathirana said the Government hadn’t specified anything regarding the two batches that have finished their course of study.
“Our case is different from the undergraduates and should be looked at separately. Our main demand is that we receive provisional registration from the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) and thus be able to start our internship and practise as house doctors,” said Mr Ruwanpathirana.
He said they had spent 9 years on their MBBS and, if nothing was done before November, (the next internship intake) it would be 10 years. “This is a crime,” he said.
“We received our Degrees from a University Grants Commission recognised Degree-awarding institute but, because it’s not recognised by the SLMC, we can’t start our internship.”
He said the Government had to tell them whether they would be receiving an MBBS (KDU) instead, to replace the existing one from SAITM and, if they had to sit another exam in order to obtain one.
“We are willing to take a test, if they want to determine our qualifications, but asking us to prepare and sit for another final exam would be a waste our time. We need to make it for this November’s internship intake.”
Minister Rajapakshe told the Sunday Times that these were ‘not the most important things at the moment’ and that, he would provide answers for them once the KDU Act was amended.