Supreme Court issues interim order suspending medical internships

The Supreme Court has issued an interim order effective from today (Feb 26) until March 27 on issuing of internships to medical graduates.

This was following a fundamental rights petition filed by three SAITM graduates claiming that students from the state-run medical college and the Sir John Kotelawala Defence University were issued medical appointments although they too were qualified to receive such appointments.

The petition was taken up for hearing before a three-member supreme court judge bench comprising Justices Prasanna Jayawardana, Preethi Padman Surasena and S. Thurairajah yesterday.

Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jayasinghe, Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC), and Health Minister (Dr.) Rajitha Senaratne have been named as respondents in the case.

The petitioners had claimed that their fundamental rights were violated since they were not given such internships despite an Appeal Court and a Supreme Court order being issued to qualify SAITM graduates as practicing doctors. They also claimed that the SLMC had acted in contempt of court by violating the said verdicts.

Accordingly, the prosecution requested for a court order stating that a violation of fundamental rights had taken place while also seeking an interim order until a final verdict is delivered on the case.

The petitioners also requested court to instruct the respondents to refrain from making such appointments unless 85 SAITM graduates are also issued the same.