SAITM University has met UGC and ministry needs - director

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

The South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) University has fulfilled the required criteria forwarded by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Higher Education Ministry, SAITM Faculty of Medicine director Dr Renuka Sameera Senaratne said.

Dr. Senaratne addressing the media at the SAITM University auditorium yesterday said academic and other facilities at the university were upgraded on the advice and guidance of the observation panel sent by the UGC.

"Panel members who visited the university five times comprised several officers, professors and experts in the medical field who represented the UGC, Government Medical Officers' Association, Higher Education Ministry and Sri Lanka Medical Council. The panel pointed out certain shortcomings and gave advice. Accordingly, those shortcomings were rectified," he said.

The UGC had issued a set of guidelines to the university when it was granted medical degree awarding status. In accordance with the UGC guidelines, the university was advised to construct a teaching hospital within 18 months. However, the university has planned to complete the construction of the teaching hospital in less than 18 months. A 1,002 bed teaching hospital is now being constructed at Malabe, close to the university. This will be the largest ever private hospital in Sri Lanka, he added.

Dr Senaratne added that some members of the GMOA made false allegations against the Malabe University. He invited these members to visit the university and have a discussion with the university authorities to get the correct picture.

Dr. Senaratne noted that the GMOA is threatening to strike forgetting that they have learned and obtained degrees with public funds.

He also said students who have not done well at the Advanced Level have not been admitted to the university.

"Only students who pass the Advanced Level science stream are qualified to enter the university. The minimum qualification is two credit passes and one simple pass for biology, chemistry, physics or mathematics. The total cost including taxes for obtaining the medical degree is around Rs 6.4 million. There are 302 medical students including 38 foreigners studying at the university. The university has 60 lecturers which include 11 Sri Lankan and 13 Russian professors," Dr Senaratne said.

Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake said that private universities, including private Medical Colleges, that meet the required criteria would be allowed to carry out academic activities in the country.