President to provide solution to SAITM issue today

President Maithripala Sirisena has promised to provide a final solution to the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) issue on Monday, the state doctors’ trade union, according to the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA).

The GMOA held discussions with President Sirisena on the SAITM issue at the Presidential Secretariat on Friday. Relevant ministers, including Minister of Health Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, representatives of the GMOA and the Sri Lanka Medical Council, the Lecturers Association, the University Grants Commission, and the SAITM Students Parents Association participated in the discussions.

Following the meeting with the President, the Secretary of the GMOA Dr. Haritha Aluthge told media that the talks were successful and the President has promised to provide a solution to the SAITM issue.

Dr. Aluthge said the President said that the Attorney General would inform the Supreme Court of the Government’s stand on SAITM soon. He said that the Attorney General was also present at the meeting and he had agreed to abide by the President’s decision on the matter.

The GMOA Secretary said they discussed a range of issues, including halting student admissions and degree awarding at the SAITM and the gazetting of minimum standards for medical education, at the meeting with the President.