A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Sunday, May 28, 2017
Why Has SAITM Become A Spike In The Progress Of Sri Lanka?
Recently
I was invited to attend a forum organised by a group of professionals
in Melbourne. In fact I was invited as a panel speaker. There were three
others in the panel totalling four including myself. The topic was
quite appropriate and was addressing one of the burning issues in Sri
Lanka.
The “SAITM” The South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine
I must confess at the offset that I am not an agent nor shareholder of
SAITM. I am a keen follower of issues that are of controversial nature
that prop up from time to time in Sri Lanka where politicians vigorously
use them to their advantage. In this article I would like to address a
few points that were discussed at the forum.
Business Name “SAITM”
As far as I have read and also understood from the participants, was
that SAITM was initially established under a different name where M
stood for Management rather than Medicine. This was a sticky point for
two speakers who spoke strongly against the mere existence of SAITM. As
far as I understand I see no issue with a Management outfit conducting
various courses that they are competent of. It is just a matter of
establishing a department or a faculty to conduct courses? Their
business structure is their business.
On the contrary KDA (Kotelawala Defence Academy) now renamed as KDU or
Kotelawala Defence University which is a direct investment of the
Government through the defence establishment, conducts fee paying
degrees, Post Graduate courses, Diplomas and offer Professional Courses.
The courses include Medical, Engineering, Allied Health, computing,
Architectures and Law to name a few. This is the first university that I
am aware of offering diplomas and certificate courses in networking –
(CCNA) Cisco certified Network associate. By the way all these courses
are fee paying and not free of charge to students who are not children
of the defence personnel.
I am yet to comprehend as to how and why the politicians who agitate
about SAITM has failed to see the functioning of KDU. Kotelawala Defence
Academy was established primarily to train defence personnel in defence
related courses. It is quite in order for the Academy now KDU to award
degrees to those who excel in studies while being attached to a defence
establishment.
Private Universities
The
basic argument on the table is that SAITM being a private Medical
College or School should not and cannot award Medical degrees. Looking
at the past we find that SAITM had been established in 2008 with the
permission from the Ministry of Higher Education who had the power to do
so. Initially an application had been lodged to obtain UGC approval.
However during the process the line ministry had vested the power to the
Minster on cabinet approval to grant permission by way of a Gazette
notification. Approval had been granted to conduct Medical degree
programs and to offer degrees on completion. There were no protests made
at the time by the parties who are opposing today. Probably due to fear
of being persecuted at the time or virtually strongly reprimanded by
the then regime. Today we see protests by an array of organisations,
University students, Trade Unions and the GMOA in particular. The same
collective had refrained from opposing the commencement of Medical
degree programs at the KDA now KDU. I am sure the majority public would
like to know the turn of thought or the back flips by these bodies.
Adding insult to the injury is that the very same then President, Ministers and secretaries who approved the establishment of SAITM and KDU are now opposing SAITM quite vigorously.
Adding insult to the injury is that the very same then President, Ministers and secretaries who approved the establishment of SAITM and KDU are now opposing SAITM quite vigorously.