(UDHAYAM, COLOMBO) – The Joint Opposition (JO) has charged that the government is posing threats to free education through the support extended to the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine.
United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Wimalaweera Dissanayake said the Joint Opposition vehemently opposes the decision to allow the operation of SAITM.
The Parliamentarian said there are those who have passed medical exams and joined the medical profession as well adding that this exam is very difficult to pass in Sri Lanka.
The UPFA MP said any country accepts Sri Lankas degree standards adding that when an institute from which you can buy a degree for money is established this is a blow to free health services and free education which will lead to the fall of the health sector in the country.
Parliamentarian Wimalaweera Dissanayake said it is a grave mistake if the public ignores this.
Minister SB Dissanayake refuted all allegations levelled against SAITM.
Minister Dissanayake said the private medical institute does not have any issues faced by the government medical universities.
The Minister also rejected claims that only wealthy students studying at SAITM.
Minister Dissanayake said certain individuals say there are shortcomings in the training of the students at SAITM adding that they are trained for 3 to 4 months.
Minister Dissanayake said the clinical exams were conducted by professors from the Colombo and Peradeniya universities who say these students are good adding that he was recently made aware that there are 61 vacancies at the Rajarata University but SAITM has none.
The Minister noted that not everyone who goes to SAITM is from a wealthy family adding that those families have taken loans, sold their houses, and those who couldn’t enter state universities are studying there adding that there are many students who have obtained 3 A’s.