By Chapani Radhika Kandanaarachchi –
Chapani Radhika Kandanaarachchi
Living in a society where more and more people are misled everyday by the false information being spread, I wish not to remain silent anymore.
I am a third-year medical student following my undergraduate degree at SAITM and a former student of Royal Institute international school, Nugegoda.
In the year of 2014, I entered SAITM with the entry qualifications of 4A*s for my Cambridge A Level examination, also having received the Best in Sri Lanka awards for my Cambridge O level (2012), and Cambridge AS Level (2013) results. Everyone who has known me, my parents, teachers, relatives as well as my friends, are aware of the amount of effort and passion I have towards what I do and it still, onto this day remain unceased.
Due to astounding amounts of bogus information being spread in the country by various parties, the students of SAITM are labelled as a bunch of underqualified, untalented and aimless individuals who have no right whatsoever to follow their career in medicine. For people like us, who have spent our whole lives focusing on nothing but our future goals, is it morally right to mentally torment us with such accusations? Our country stands out from all other prestigious and well developed nations in this world as free education is provided to her children without any discrimination. However, it is a well-known fact that the state universities ONLY enroll students passing out from Sri Lankan government schools. Therefore, for individuals who pass out from international schools, sometimes with better results than the ones already enrolled in government universities, do they not deserve a bright future?
I had countless opportunities to travel abroad and follow my degree in medicine, even at a cheaper cost, but I decided NOT to. It is not a hidden fact, that the parents of the foreign students are worried sick as to what might become of their children after sending them off to a completely new land, where there is no known kin and they have to learn foreign languages from the scratch even to communicate with the people. So, is it not wise that I decided to stay in my MOTHER COUNTRY, pay money to my own country, speak to my patients in my mother language, to go home every day knowing my parents will always be there to love and support me and always be under their direct protection?
Nothing ever starts perfect, everything grows to perfection only with time and effort. SAITM is undoubtedly a place that opened doors for many talented and innocent children in Sri Lanka, and it will one day contribute greatly to the education system of the country, if enough opportunities are given. Therefore, isn’t holding hands with us to improve any shortcomings the right thing to do now, rather than trying to destroy the futures of so many young, gifted individuals? We are children who have the potential to contribute to the well-being of our nation and children who can one day blossom to be great doctors, just like any other graduate from state faculties. So why not give us a chance to grow? If the citizens of our own mother land are trying to drag us down, who should we really TRUST?
We fear no one who tries to block our future road because we ourselves know, more than anyone, how much effort and time we are dedicating to our education and HOW MUCH WE DESERVE IT. Therefore, before believing all the biased stories spread in the social media today, solely for their personal benefit, jealousy and utter joblessness, I request everyone to seek the TRUTH behind all this. We were born in this country, we are PROUD CITIZENS who TRULY LOVE our country and we have EVERY RIGHT to remain in this country and follow our ambition.
Thank you.
justice / March 12, 2017
CRK,
Tell all the truth about SAITM, only about the medical school, in detail.
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Samuel Jayaweera / March 12, 2017
I think whatever distinctions you may have obtained you and your parents could check it before being entered to the SAITM: If a college is not approved from the state s highest institute, that is no recognized enough to be called as a reliable college.
I wonder why both UGC and lectuerers of SAITM failed to advise the students accordingly. Normally teachers would not mislead the students. Unfortunately this college lectuerers seem to have done it different.
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rk / March 12, 2017
Just so u kno..this institute already had UGC approval and 10 national scholarships given by former prsident mahinda rajapakse. Also just like any other state faculty or even better, these children are lectures by highly qualified lecturers. If u also had a child who u didnt want to be sent abroad, and you didnt have enough money to send them for a medical degree in any developed nation, what wud you do ? will u also not look for atleast the slightest hope present in Sri Lnka to educate dem ?
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Samuel Jayaweera / March 12, 2017
I am deeply dissapointed by reading the comments and the anxities the student and their parents have been made to face on this today. The former minister should have to respond to them today. This is no means an issue to neglect -anymore. What was clear to us was, if MR led administration did anything – that had been not followed the due regulations properly. That was due to lack of their knoweldge on the most important facts of anything. Be it PMC, Mattala Airport, Katunayaka Airport, Road and Development projects all have something in common – either they were not carried out going through all the standard guide lines as previous govts did or completed somehow with deficiencies to come as it is the case with PMC issue. All other issues are no comparable with a human issue as PMC, nevertheless they did play with the lives of innocient youth in this counry.
May be, what matters for them in the administration was to focus on profits earned by the COLLEGE nothing else. These men are as the press has sofar reported, high criminals. THere is no doubt about it.
Here, sadest enough even world recognized professsors too have been made blind with the approval given by UGC. – even if UGC has approved, state s medical council must have approved too….
Lately, SLMC made it very clear even if the student enrollment to the college continued, SLMC had adequately warned lankens about the situation ….. already at the begining of the college 7 or years ago ?
You the met parents and students should have gone on protest marches asking former HIGHER EDUCATION minister along with PRESIDENT to come to a discussion with you.
Secondly, as we are well aware, even if few students woul dhav ebeen no merit students, all other students enrolled to the college have records to have done their performances at its best in entrance exams.
I wish you all the best, and all gods to help you with achieving a solution to the problem soon.
However, what matters is to have made concerns if the degree would have been recognized by the state after it is awarded to the students. This should have been the most important those students who entered to the LANKEN PMC. All others are no that important.
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Jagath Fernando / March 12, 2017
What is wrong in students getting good AL results getting free uni education and others paying for it?
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Sama / March 12, 2017
That is wrong for the lanken jealousy society. That is it. They are fine with sending their children to private tuition getting AL passed, but only for degree being offered by PVT colleges, they just stand on the way….. contraditiory by themselves… my gosh.. this is srilanken society of 2017…. can you imagine.. i dont know from what end I have to laugh on this ??
If other degrees such IT and commerce can be offered by pvt colleges without very same peoples not to face any allergies, but they have to read this way with the human medicine degrees is no means undrestandable restrict to uncivlized dominated folks in the country.
Saddest reality is MR himself had closely linked with President of GMOA… was not overlooked , enjoyed the perks offered to him were read in news papers.
But him no tto have informed the parents and students at the begining of the SAITM is no means comphrehisble.
These men are jokers really ignorants.
They can react if they loose their perks.
Like the current govt s stand against the providing of school admission to the children of Doctors as perk indulgent doctors request, putting them on altar as had been the high days of Meeharaka Rajapakshe adminsitration.
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jim softy / March 12, 2017
So, is it not wise that I decided to stay in my MOTHER COUNTRY, pay money to my own country, speak to my patients in my mother language, to go home every day knowing my parents will always be there.
Above is the proboem.
Even Lord Buddha first became a buddha and then thought of saving others.
Why did you do differently.
Is this Cambridge an affiliated organization in Sri lanka ?
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Malathi / March 12, 2017
Was lord buddha also the one who told the gmoa to strike in the morning and do channeling in the evening? Such hypocrisy stuns me! The most important thing in studying in srilanka is that they learn the diseases that are in sri lanka and they learn to treat sri lankan people. Not like in foreign universities where they learn about diseases in that country.
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lionel Jayaweera / March 12, 2017
The solution is to ban all private practice for government doctors and send the tax man to check on doctors in private practice. If they want to strike, kick them out and bring Indian doctors. They practice ethical medicine. Just go and see brilliant heart surgeons from India who have saved thousands of Sri Lankan lives. Their commitment is unquestionable. There are thousands of junior India doctors who would gladly accept a stint in Sri Lanka.
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Someonewhoknowswhatcambridgeis / March 12, 2017
Maybe you should google ‘this Cambridge’ – if you’re not sure if it is ‘affiliated’
LOL. What kind of an educated person in today’s world doesn’t know Cambridge?
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googleowner / March 12, 2017
These Veddas don’t know to google
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rk / March 12, 2017
Just so u kno..this institute already had ugc approval and 10 national scholarships given by former prsident mahinda rajapakse. Also just like any other state faculty or even better, these children are lectures by highly qualified lecturers. If u also had a child who u didnt want to be sent abroad, and you didnt have enough money to send them for a medical degree in any developed nation, what wud you do ? will u also not look for atleast the slightest hope present in Sri Lnka to educate dem ?
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ramona therese fernando / March 12, 2017
Well Chapani Radhika Kandanaarachchi, your story is the story of Individualistic Individualized Aspiration over Country Nationalistic Aspiration.
For a Buddhist country destroyed by colonization and struggling to get on its feet for almost 70 years after independence, and after a 30 year old civil war, Country Nationalistic Aspiration should take precedence!
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ramona therese fernando / March 12, 2017
On the other hand, one wonders what steps the SLMA takes to keep its public funded doctors from absconding the country.
With Ranil trying to import in Indian doctors, SAITM doctors then seem to be the better and cheaper alternative. The proof of the SAITM students’ and public doctors’ legitimacy would be for them to sign pledges and bonds that will take them to places like Vavuinya and Kuda Oya for a few decades of service.
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Suresh Premachandra / March 12, 2017
Wish I can take you along to Kuda Oya Remona girl
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Deepika / March 12, 2017
The real “Individualistic Individualised Aspiration” is the GMOA, whose campaign is devoid of genuine interest in patient rights. Remember, this is the same group who go on strike, depriving the general public of free healthcare for car permits and to put their children to certain schools.
Establishing private medical schools will not affect state medical schools and will help develop the country.
That is “Country Nationalistic Aspiration”
“Individualistic Individualized Aspiration” can also be thought of as state-educated medical graduates who run away to western countries as soon as they can. They did not spend a cent for their education but their services are not to Mother Lanka
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Vijara Fonseka / March 12, 2017
Most of these hooligans cannot run to western countries because they cannot speak or write a sentence in English, so they are jealous that the super kids will go places and comeback with qualifications which will turn these Bintenne ass….les in to male nurses.
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Malathi / March 12, 2017
The day you realise that all the students who study abroad instead of saitm are pumping in millions of dollars to the very counrties that colonized us, i hope you feel as ignorant as i think you are right now. You want country nationalistic aspiration to take precedence? Put up more private universities since our goverment is in debt and cannot afford to build one now. Then make sure these unis are regulated by a good unbiased board. And keep our money in our country!
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Suresh Premachandra / March 12, 2017
A REMONA THERESE talking about Buddhist culture. Bullshit nostalgia. Get in to your redda hetta minus your blue jeans and bikini
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Peace Lover / March 12, 2017
well said and echoes the thoughts of many right thinking people,however leftists and anti SAITM people will always try to scuttle SAITM and similar initiatives due to their own insecurities
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Nuwan / March 12, 2017
In that case those who provide private education products must plan for contingencies and strategies. It’s a pity that the service provider did not do any of these and left the customers to fight for it. What sort of a business model is that? Total reliance on support of rogue politicians, strong hand of MR dictatorship, was not the brightest of methods.
Hopefully the victims will get their money back.
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Jayantha P / March 12, 2017
No, they will get their degree. The JVP and other sadists will have to eat shit when the supreme court rules. Lock up anyone who protests afterwards for contempt
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Niranjan / March 12, 2017
The service provider was hindered by GMOA strikes. Everyone must fight for their rights when spineless Anthare fools keep spreading their misinformation campaign, much like the rest of the public of Sri Lanka
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silva / March 12, 2017
ane…. 1st stop this bullshit. NF uncle started new way of advertising after failure of his drama with CEO. Now girls r on the way to attract public . All these rich idiots want to become doctor bypassing SLMC. yes u can get the degree for ur money and put Dr infront of ur name. But please dont ask rights to kill innocent patients . your previous collegue has written that he has touched some matterial of patients. you all are thinking touching materials such as stool is clinical practice. please go to some state university and ask students what is meant by clinical practice before writing this kind of bullshit and doing cheap business.
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Perera / March 12, 2017
Silva, you are just another person spreading misinformation.
SAITM has far more facilities than Rajarata and Eastern University and has REAL patients for clinical training.
“Rich idiots” exposes your mentality. What right do you have to call someone who has 4As in their A/L an idiot?
Third class comments, Silva.
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silva / March 12, 2017
a girl who scared to do exam and enter medical field via back door is real idiot, if she has brain ask her to come forwrd and say that she can do any exam . but they are demanding exam with restriction then they can pass with payment. yes rajarata and eastern has less building but that university has students who really going through all exams and no body goes to court to allow them without exam. also more important they have enough adequate patients for clinical studies .they are not like these mentally retarded rich idiots who use their power of money to become a doctor. what we ask? just come and write an exam, why they ar so fuzz? oh my god…I think saitm will offer online medical degree soon…..funny idiots. please send mail, I will take all of you idiots to our appointment and show wat is meant by clinical training.
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Silva's parents / March 12, 2017
Putha before you go for your appointment please take an English class, it will help. Grammar needs improvement son.
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Janaka / March 12, 2017
Mr Silva , State students are always protesting so I’m afraid you will only find an empty university if you try to go and ask for what clinical practice is, I think these students are way more intelligent than imaature adults like you who do not let this country grow.
Maybe it’s time for you to wake up or get yourself a ticket , go abroad and learn about private education!
I’m sure if you had the capability to read these stories you will understand that these children are not millionaires unfortunately you are also just like one of those people who protest on a road without any idea as to what is happening!
Shame on you.
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Ranjani / March 12, 2017
What kind of ridiculous sexist statement is that? Neville is using girls to promote saitm? She got 4A*s ! Did you miss that part? or were you too busy looking at her picture? She’ll be a better doctor than a knuckle dragging neanderthal like you !
I support Saitm ! You children have worked so hard for this!
looking at all the REAL facts i can see how the slmc has treated you unfairly. Starting from Prof. Carlo being in the UGC commitee that made saitm a degree awarding institute. Then as soon as he became the head of the slmc changed his tune?!
The slmc should set up recommendations and exact regulations for tha saitm to follow. But in their last insepction they did not include the recommendations they had first written when they gave it to the minister of health. why did they do that? And they call the saitm fraudulent? I feel for children to be treated so unfairly by people with their own political agendas . And to have these kind of ignorant idiots who have no logical arugments to make but say that neville is using girls to promote saitm. I hope you stay strong. We are with you!
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old codger / March 12, 2017
Ranjani.
“She’ll be a better doctor than a knuckle dragging neanderthal like you ! “
Great! But you’ll have to send Mr.Silva a dictionary. If he can read, that is. BTW, neanderthals did not drag their knuckles, but gorillas do.
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Umara / March 12, 2017
CEO is only an employee and does not represent these innocent students.
I think people are aware as to who killed patients this whole time, doctors protesting for the slightest things and putting the lives of innocent patients at risk, how come you are unaware of these happenings?
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Prakash David / March 12, 2017
An organisation cannot be held liable for an individual’s actions outside the work premises. The CEO wanted to create drama, and let the law take its course. Why is he not arrested? Is there a political twist. Was Peratugami or the JVP taking up their rusting armoury out. Look at the JVP Wimal, owning 4 billion worth of property when he had only a telephone booth when he started politics. Look at drunkard driving of JVPs Vijitha Herath in Rajagiriya. Look at the simple JVP leader who wouldn’t go out without a silk shirt. These selfish political enemies want to keep their ranks soaring by keeping these idiots on the streets
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silva / March 12, 2017
they for wat reason they held an press meeting on next day when Nf kissed and hugged his idiotic CEO? you idiotic fools are supporting these morons who cheat everybody.
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Ceylonese / March 12, 2017
You have not offered any hard evidence against SAITM, rather just like the spin Dosthar with a PhD (Permanent head Damage)
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Suppiah Silva / March 12, 2017
Simple Silva, there is no point in going to state universities because those students are not studying but sleeping on the parliament drive pavement and this is how they learn. Just ask one of the SAITM children to lend you a rubber female dummy and you might enjoy touching it
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silva / March 12, 2017
we are not kids to play with dummys. yes Nf need rubber dummys to cheat his mentally retarded students.hehehehe
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Niluki / March 12, 2017
Its sickening to see you going around throwing the word mentally retarded around when there are so many children who actually have it and are some of the most sweet people in the world. The parents of down syndrome have to face so much stigma against theor children. You a future doctor should be more caring and sensitive to the trouble that is faced by the parents of children who actually suffer from down syndrome. Please stop using that word to insult people when you dont have a logical argument to make against them. You’re truly a disgrace.
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Optimist / March 12, 2017
Dear Chapani, This evil corrupt satanic GMOA has SLMC by the neck, but you know what. Justice has already been released on the committed SAITM trained doctors. So good to hear of your excellent record. Keep it up when you treat the very poor left to die with strikes by GMOA. Believe me GMOA will never let you have any clinical training which those wild insane Deans are proposing and documenting. You will not get it like the Supreme court gave Avissawela hospital which they try to sabotage. GMOA stinks not heals. Go for the verdict of internship training under health ministry where you have authority. Don’t accept any other nonsensical student clerkships offered. Internship is and will be your only legal right for the present. Look into the faces of street GMOA and you will understand what I mean. SAITM training improving daily.
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Sherene Jayaweera / March 12, 2017
This evil corrupt satanic GMOA has SLMC by the neck, BUT BY THE BA…LS
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jim softy / March 12, 2017
Here a private Univeristy and the govt minister have sabotaged the lives of students. That need to be corrected.
On ther other hand, a Patients Rights Groups should ask legislation to prosecute hospitals and doctors when doctors kill or ruin the patient lives. In that, minister as an individual person should be prosecuted for their lack of responsibility and negligence. Then other politicians learn.
SAITM mamangement also should be prosecuted for ruining students’ lives by knowingly doing this thing using a fradulent approach.
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nalin fernando / March 12, 2017
@silva Innocent patients are to date not killed by any SAITM product, but even as we speak people die in gov. hospital and Pvt hospitals, due to mistakes by products of government faculties, it is such doctors that cut the left leg for right, that left surgical material inside before closing the incision, it is GMOA members that went on protesting to get car permits, and BEST schools for their children simply beacause they are doctors. So leave it to us the PUBLIC to judge who actually has done harm to us “innocent patients”.
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basil fernando / March 12, 2017
There will come a time when the public will act and that day is soon coming for these GMOA lot. The public will conduct surgical procedures on their vital organs that hangs
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silva / March 12, 2017
hey idiot u have no rights to talk about real doctors. if you want just go and prove ur talent in AL. u idiot with mental retardation who failed AL and got all F now want to become doctor by just paying 120 lakhs and commenting about others. Go to some school where they teach mentally retarded and get basic education 1st rather than going to SAITM
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Tip / March 12, 2017
What made you so jealous Silva?
She and many others at SAITM got all As at A/L.
Jealousy won’t get you far in life.
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Nuwan / March 12, 2017
My dear, I’m shocked to learn that even cleverest of people like you, and your parents, fell victim to this MR+SB+NF scam and left to fend yourself.
Wish you all the best.
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NuwanIdiot / March 12, 2017
But MR & the Joint Opposition is against SAITM?
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Nuwan / March 12, 2017
That’s now…politics. Ask about who started it.
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Raman / March 12, 2017
Local or international these too are students of this country whose parents pay tax money. With them doing international curriculum, it has allowed one more underprivileged child to enter a state school. These children too should have opportunities to learn in this country. Govt should provide education access to all eligible students in this country. Well said duwa. Just like you I know, I know so many students who go through many hardships. All the best!
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Matt / March 12, 2017
You are asking for ‘chances to grow’. I’m sorry, But we cannot give you ‘chances’ with the lives of patients. Maybe you should take those ‘chances’ with your family members. Not with the innocent patients of this country..
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rk / March 12, 2017
Nobody asked to kill anybody ROFL. It just says give them a chnce to grow by helping them to reach better hospitals to learn..It is useless trying to convince simple mided people like you, such a disgrace.
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rk / March 12, 2017
Nobody asked to kill anybody rof;
. It just says give them a chnce to grow by helping them to reach better hospitals to learn..It is useless trying to convince simple mided people like you, such a disgrace.
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Hilmy Ahamed / March 12, 2017
You think these hooligans who are on the streets learn anything. They are the worst possible option to treat patients. Just google to see the lapses of Sri Lankan medicos and no one in the medical profession will come forward to provide evidence against one of their own. So If NFH could be improved or nationalised and used exclusively for the training of SAITM students, we will have a bunch of super brilliant doctors
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Lucky / March 12, 2017
It’s disgusting to read some comments here! She has stated her story and the reasons why she joined Saitm and she has got all rights to do so.
First of all be it Edexcel or Cambridge examinations, both of them are worldwide recognized examinations, so many students in srilanka go to international schools but aren’t allowed to study medicine here. Isn’t it unfair? Rnt they children of motherlanka as well? Be it London or Local examinations, to get good results you need to work hard and so don’t try to judge the student by which exam they have done!
Most of these students are children of middle classed families, don’t try to label them as “kids of rich idiots”
Haven’t you heard the fact that parents would do anything to give their children a good education?
And none of them wanna be doctors through shortcuts, time and over again they’ve being asking for a common exam to prove they are worthy of it, just make arrangements for such exams once and see the quality of them!
And also tell me is it the Saitm graduates that killed all the patients all these years? No nah? It’s the so called fully qualified government doctors. So stop spreading hatred and open your eyes for once and see the truth!
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unknown / March 12, 2017
sorry to break your bubble but you seem like such an intelligent individual so think about my confusion when I fail to understand why you couldn’t acknowledge simple warnings.
Not just by the SLMC but by the now president, then health minister, in countless gazettes and publication, warning the public of its deceptive claims? Did they (SAITM) or did they not have advertisements falsely claiming they already had SLMC approval? Tell me did you really expect an institution that blatantly lied to your face about your actual future prospects if you enrolled with them to care about you as an individual? Had you actually cared about ambitions like you say you do you would have known better than to hope everything will be rainbows and roses in the end and the world will hand you a shining medical degree in return for a pretty sum of money. Yes, I understand you undergo rigorous tests and so on (or so your colleague claimed in her post), but should that mean the world OWES you the accreditation of a degree that you were warned countless times to not be legitimate (the UGC grant alone clearly isn’t enough)?
I don’t doubt your capabilities, if you really had the opportunity/means to do literally ANYTHING else but enrol in SAITM this is entirely your baby and you shouldn’t hold the public responsible for your misjudgement of reality and/or failure to make a right decision. You KNEW it wasn’t legalised or legitimate, so what did you expect? just ignore the elephant in the room till it magically becomes accepted? Your problem, I believe is with the heads that are responsible for this whole initiative, namely Dr. NF, who downright robbed your parents of their hard-earned money and not the public’s concern. Please pick your battles right.
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Ruwan / March 12, 2017
The only reason it’s not legalized is because the backwards attitudes of the slmc and other organizations, they are happy enuf to let students who study abroad come and be doctors here, ruin the lives of the patients but they forbid doctors being produced in their country itself. It’s borderline barbaric and a disgrace to humanity in general
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Mary.K / March 12, 2017
Seriously? The country’s then president gave scholarships for students to study Medicine at SAITM. Which individual would say that he gave scholarships to an illegal institute? They”re just false rumors that are being spread around. Moreover, if it’s not a legal one why do you think the panel of judges declared it legal? Surely they know more law than you or me. Neither you nor me have proofs that it’s not legal. You’re just assuming it, because that’s what you’re hearing and you’re believing it. You’re not at all looking at the possibility that it might be legal, since it hasn’t been proved illegal. Think about it :-)
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unknown / March 12, 2017
Ok I understand you’re right in thinking it’s “legal” yes, they can sell whatever piece of paper they want if there is a demand for it, but should that then mean the public’s health and safety should be in jeopardy? The agreement was between the student and the institute and not with the government’s statutory bodies.
by legitimate I meant the actual recognition of the degree, can you really argue that it is recognised when it never was? Is the fact that SLMC has not approved its students for registration hearsay? In any country, the Medical Council is responsible for screening both local and international graduates, SAITM, if they had good intentions from the start should have obtained these authorities permission before putting up shop; instead, they thought they could do whatever they want and enrol students which would then become a case of human rights issue (really is smart gotta hand it to them, great business model).
Was SAITM in the right for having deceived unsuspecting students guaranteeing that their students would have a RECOGNISED degree and no requirement to sit the EPRM when none of the authority bodies agreed to any of those terms? Marketing their business is one thing, misleading innocent students and selling them hope, I think any sane person could see is criminal.
Funny thing about the then president MR though isn’t it, he seemed to have changed his mind since of late. Politician’s backings work just great as long as your agendas align with theirs until they do what they do best; change lanes like the monkeys they are to better fit their image.
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Niluki / March 12, 2017
ant to talk about the slmc? Lol okay lets do that. Firstly did you know that prof. Carlo was in the ugc commitee that inspected saitm and then gave saitm the status of a degree awarding institute? Why didnt he refuse to give it then? furthermore, he was on camera when he stated that there should be more private medical unis in srilanka? Why did he say that?
Then lets see how he dramatically changed his tune after he became the head of the slmc. It is the duty of the slmc to provide recommendation to the degree awarding institute and keep regulating it. But he is now point blank refusing to do anything to the very same institution that he gave degree awarding status.
Rght next lets point out the fact that when slmc came to inspect saitm. They had three main recommendations. In their first report. One of them being that students dont have the adequate clincal exposure on community medicine and forensic medicine. ( one that has been rectified since the supreme court order allowed saitm students to do clinicals in awissawella base hospital and kaduwela MOH hospital.)
But when they gave this report to the minister of health, the page with the recommendations was missing. And you say saitm is fraudulent. Lol
Also the main problem the slmc have is the clinical exposure. Why on earth did he accept kdu when they didnt even have a hospital that time?
What kind of double standards are these? Saitm students have repeatedly stated that they are ready to sit for any exam given to them. But have your hero prof. Carlo refuses to do so. Minister kiriella even asked him to let saitm students sit for the act 16 but he refused to allow them. Which is why saitm students had no choice but to take this matter to the courts. Please learn to look at it from both sides
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unknown / March 12, 2017
Hi Nilukshi! firstly thank you for your respectful response this is how it should be done, debate with FACTS as opposed to the hateful bullshit everyone else is spewing around here, maybe we could educate each other!
Thanks for bringing to my attention the fact about CarloF being a part of the UGC committee while the inspection took place, it’s interesting but to that I have a couple of things to say; first being the UGC and the SLMC are two separate statuary bodies and the UGC does not share in the role of the SLMC, and as I’ve acknowledged above you do have UGC’s blessing but you would be unable to practice medicine as the SLMC approval was never promised and this is where the conflict arises. (perhaps look into medical research though?). Secondly you mentioned that it’s up to the SLMC to give regulations and express concerns but as you also pointed out; if CF wasn’t the chief of SLMC at the time of UGC inspection was it really his place to do so? I believe your claim of CF having given the UGC approval is stretching the facts a little bit don’t you think?
I’ll refrain from discussing KDU as that isn’t up for debate here, they’re an accredited institution with SLMC approval, I’m aware of the apparent double standards pertaining to the hospital but realise that the students there are either international or military children and their beginnings were nowhere near corrupt as SAITM.
Thirdly, I commend you for also informing me that students are ready to sit for the EPRM, the credibility of which would remain open until proven otherwise (that SLMC is in fact impeding your efforts to sit for the EPRM and it isn’t just an excuse). On what grounds are they refusing to allow you to sit for the EPRM? Is the catch 22 due to you being considered neither foreign nor local (no SLMC approval)?
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Niluki / March 12, 2017
[Edited out] Comments should not exceed 300 words.Please read our Comments Policy for further details.
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unknown / March 12, 2017
Niluki your comment wasn’t posted! :( we were finally starting to have a real meaningful conversation going and I honestly was willing to be completely open minded and welcome your thoughts and hear your side of the story. I know it must be frustrating is it possible for you to repost it somehow, hopefully you had it saved somewhere? P. S. sorry I spelled your name wrong the first time around!
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Silva / March 12, 2017
Well written and touching story. You have every right to an education!
Do not worry about the lies. We all know about the JVP affiliated elements against SAITM. It’s their agenda to use this against the government.
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Shrikharan / March 12, 2017
The state university students who are opposing the establishment of Private Medical college are those who obtained much lower results than those in SAITM. Most of the state medical students are admitted from rural districts with low results on the district quota system.
Students from ‘good’ schools are punished for no fault of theirs. Such students have to obtain a very high results to enter. These students admitted under the guise of the district quota system with 3 simple passes and low total aggregate is now advising the students with 2As and higher aggregate but unable to enter state university being from good school so penalized by the district quota that they are not intelligent to follow medical course and they pose serious risk to the population once they become doctors! That is the joke of the year.
Many students in state medical faculty cannot speak properly. in English. They are very crude, lack proper manners, and behave very cheaply like street vendors, and fish mongers. They have no class The standard of doctors now drastically deteriorated due to the poor quality of students entering the university due to the district quota system. In the bygone era when the students were admitted on an all island merit basis standards were very high and Sri Lankan doctors were well respected all over the world. It is unfair to punish the students from good school and it is discouraging people to seek good schools and a very bad trend which will affect the entire society in long term and that is what has happened now. All these wrong things were done by selfish politicians in the 70’s who created the district quota system to increase their votes as the wining votes are totally with the rural areas and not the main cities and that is why good districts now have to pay the price for these dirty politicians by denying their children entering their preferred choice of learning in University because of the punitive district quota system when a student from rural district could enter to prestigious courses like Medicine and Engineering merely getting the bare minimum qualification such as 3 simple passes when a student in good cities like Colombo, Kandy Jaffna and Galle cannot enter such course even with 2A’s or the likes.
If they are interested in the safety of the patients and quality then they should advise to abolish the dubious district basis system of admission and reintroduce the all island merit system which existed before 1974 admission to universities.
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vetmahadeva / March 12, 2017
Dear SAITM Medical Students
You all should have been be well informed of the prevailing situation of the of country of yours and controversies of around PRIVATE MEDICAL EDUCATION, before choosing the all important carrier education institution. There have been numerous news circulating since the inception of SAITM, still you all embarked on
. ” stay in my MOTHER COUNTRY, pay money to my own country, speak to my patients in my mother language, to go home every day knowing my parents will always be there to love and support me and always be under their direct protection”
Thus you have not made any sacrifice, you have chose to buy a Degree while in the protection and love of parents, with power and money in hand, that made you to IGNORE THE PAPER ADVERTISEMENTS, of SLMC< various negative news about the INSTITUTION YOU PREJUDICED for staying put in your country.
Let your money and Power buy you whatever you like sans the Degree with recognition of SLMC
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Ramani / March 12, 2017
SAITM is a legal organisation, the courts have proved it.
Spreading lies will never be a fruitful endeavour
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vetmahadeva / March 12, 2017
Ramani,
You cannot rectify a problem identified as medical inadequacy by the medical profession through the interpretation by the legal profession. Can you?
If you think so, you are fundamentally wrong on seeking to be a medical professional !!
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Ranjani / March 12, 2017
Sacrifices? There are many students who have got lower marks than saitm students but have gone to medical school because they are from a different district. Stop being so naive. Not everyone is rich just because they go to a private uni.These people have sold everything they have, got loans and their parents have worked themselves to the bone to pay for their education. They dont come to uni in mercedez and all. How can you be so ignorant? When they pay they dont pay for their degree. ..they pay for the opportunity to be taught and to sit for the exams. Whether they pass or fail depends on hard they work. If they dont pass they get to repeat once . And then batch miss. And there are numerous students whi have got scholarships. So How can you sit on the outside with no real knowledge on the matter and pass judgement?
You want to talk about the slmc? Lol okay lets do that. Firstly did you know that prof. Carlo was in the ugc commitee that inspected saitm and then gave saitm the status of a degree awarding institute? Why didnt he refuse to give it then? furthermore, he was on camera when he stated that there should be more private medical unis in srilanka? Why did he say that?
Then lets see how he dramatically changed his tune after he became the head of the slmc. It is the duty of the slmc to provide recommendation to the degree awarding institute and keep regulating it. But he is now point blank refusing to do anything to the very same institution that he gave degree awarding status.
Rght next lets point out the fact that when slmc came to inspect saitm. They had three main recommendations. In their first report. One of them being that students dont have the adequate clincal exposure on community medicine and forensic medicine. ( one that has been rectified since the supreme court order allowed saitm students to do clinicals in awissawella base hospital and kaduwela MOH hospital.)
But when they gave this report to the minister of health, the page with the recommendations was missing. And you say saitm is fraudulent. Lol
Also the main problem the slmc have is the clinical exposure. Why on earth did he accept kdu when they didnt even have a hospital that time?
What kind of double standards are these? Saitm students have repeatedly stated that they are ready to sit for any exam given to them. But have your hero prof. Carlo refuses to do so. Minister kiriella even asked him to let saitm students sit for the act 16 but he refused to allow them. Which is why saitm students had no choice but to take this matter to the courts.
Please educate yourself before you comment on this matte before commenting.
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vetmahadeva / March 12, 2017
The real Problems of SAITM; Community Medicine and Forensic Medicine not included in training curriculum, and visiting lecturers/consultants have pathetically shown blind eye to this blatant discrepancy of MBBS Degree Course!
“While old medical faculties with fully fledged staff, facilities and with extremely heavy patient populations to cater to the educational needs, take closer to 200 students a year, SAITM with mostly visiting staff with handful of patients in one ward in a 1100 bed strength hospital; with no community health care training facility or forensic medicine training facility has enrolled about double that amount per year. No right thinking person will approve this. With due respect to all the good teachers who have served many medical faculties in the past before they entered SAITM, I believe they have failed to educate the SAITM administration regarding student-patient and staff-student ratios in a medical faculty before finding ways to reduce the doctor-patient discrepancy of this country.”
This is a finding made by Professor of Medicine,Chandrika Jeyasinge University of Perdeniya on SAITM; Prof. Carlo Fonseka is just Chairman of Executive Committee of many field experts within the SLMC!!
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Ranjani / March 12, 2017
As i stated before Following the supreme court order stidents have gone to the awissawella and kaduwela hospital for community medicine and forensic medicine. Furthermore NFTH is not the only hospital that students do their clinicals in. They go to nawaloka and other hospitals. In addition nevile fernando is currently working on giving NFTH over to the goverment. He is currently carrying out the neccesary paper work.
Update yourself.
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vetmahadeva / March 12, 2017
Every course of action is objected toward something, that is Dr. Navile Fernando has been directed towards correct path way , cool baby, cool. Please refer Shani Koralage one of your SAITM mate’s article on the same subject and see how she has responded to the comments made on it!
For any profession patience emancipates best results, wish you all the best!
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Will / March 12, 2017
True that sister, everyone deserves an opportunity and none should stand against it. For all those stand shouting,I don’t hate them just pity them fools.
Main reason here is more than 95% of the SLMC is government graduates, and they try to keep their monopoly.
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Dutu / March 12, 2017
Brilliant story from a brilliant student!! I wish you well in all your endeavours!
These days Sri Lanka is undergoing a massive change!
Confronting the groups that hold it back from progressing!
Like the leftist parties who have held us back. Thankfully they don’t have bombs like in 1988 anymore.
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Former Doctor / March 12, 2017
Listen to the voice of the privileged, in the form of Ms Chapani Radhika Kandanaarachchi.
This young lady is a product of an education system that was privatised (by stealth) by the JRJ government and Wickrama Weerasuriya in particular. She has never seen the grounds of a government school,in the country and has mixed only with the children of the same millionaire class. That is her world.
She has not sat for a Sri Lankan exam but “Cambridge” OL and AL. Now she expects the same privilege to continue for her to get a medical degree, just because her parents have the money!
As a doctor qualified out of the state system, I ask the question, “will a person with that particular background have the ability to understand the health issues if she is posted to Dehiattakandiya after SAITM degree? She would never have the capacity to understand the issues of malnutrition, worms, poor sanitation that is afflicting 90% of our poor population.
Medicine is just a prestigious job for these people and that is why they chase it at whatever cost.
Come down from the ivory tower my dear, and experience the real world of Sri Lanka.
Good Luck!
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rk / March 12, 2017
Just so you kno…International schools are present in Sri Lanka and they also live in the same damn country .. and what makes you think that dey have no clue of what is happening in their own country ? ur stupidity ?? Real world my dear is made a lot more hateful and disgusting by people like you who cant atleast have some faith in their own brothers and sisters!!! People filled with so much of pride, hate and jeolosy and it feels lyk needles pricking their eyes when you see others becoming successful..
All the best bro may you one day understand the struggles of others.
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Sherene Jayaweera / March 12, 2017
Why NOT you sadist. I dont think you are a doctor and I hope that you dont ever get a chance to treat a patient with such venom in your heart – Bas….rd
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Former Doctor / March 12, 2017
Thank you Sherene (and CERK below). You can’t be Sri Lankan, Sherene!
I do understand that you are the mother and father of Chapani Radika, but the bitter facts remain the same.
You people who float in money can’t or don’t understand the meaning of the word equality. If you were poor your daughter would not be writing this plea.
Being a doctor is not just a matter of getting a high income job. There are certain medical duties (like turning over a 90 yr old female full of bed sores and lying in her own excreta) Chapani will never do for 100 million dollars, coming from her international school and Cambridge OL/AL background. I am speaking with experience, having seen many students who have got in to medicine for wrong reasons.
We have always been the ‘healing’ profession and we will fight to keep it that way, protected from the dirty rupee and dirty dollar.
Have a nice day.
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Pabasara / March 12, 2017
@former doctor
Maybe during your time it was the “healing profession” nowadays all these Doctors do is protest on the streets for the slightest thing and we patients have to stuffer.
We need real Docotrs and I believe Chapani is capable of growing up to be an amazing Doctor!
Also don’t assume that people float in money , this is the exact problem we have with the current Doctors who have zero empathy.
Assuming doesn’t help at all!
These healing profession doctors strike in the mornings and afternoon and then go to do private practice in evening! What kind of a healing profession is that?
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CERK / March 12, 2017
Former Doctor,
As a doctor also from the state sector, I ask you why you are not ready to even allow such an opportunity to another person.
If you are assuming one has to grow up with worms and poor sanitation to understand these concepts, you are sadly wrong.
You can play class politics all you like, it only exposes your JVP agenda. No, you will not send us back to 1988.
There is no ivory tower. There is only jealous individuals like yourself imagining one.
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Sudharshi / March 12, 2017
In other words, according to this testimony a section of students with adequate qualifications studying at SAITM; their main choice of the institution had depended on staying in Sri Lanka with their support system and not the cost.
However, query on anyone’s mind would be why didn’t these intelligrnt youth with their ‘capable’support systems investigate the quality of the degree they were going to get? Why were they so gullible to believe in the advertising of SAITMand the then government’s haphazard policies to choose this as their choice?
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Nilanga / March 12, 2017
The answer to the query on anyone’s mind would be that saitm had been insepected by the ugc committee in which prof. Carlo was also part of. He along with his colleagues then accepted saitm as a degree awarding institute. why did he do that? After he became the head of the slmc he chanhed his tune. Then when the slmc inspected saitm they made certain recommendations. If which were improved saitm students could gain provisional registration. However when the report was handed to the minister of health the page with the recommendations was not there. How can the slmc be trusted to be fair? Please read the report from the appeals court which shows how the slmc was proven to be biased. one example is that the main problem the slmc had was that saitm.students do not habe enough clinical exposure in community medicine and forensic medicne ( this has been rectified). Yet the slmc had no problem accepting kdu when they didnt even have a hospital yet. Why the double standards?
It is the slmc that should work on regulating saitm which is very happy to be regulated as stated repeatedly. These students have been also been repeatedly stating that they are ready to sit for any exam given by the slmc. But the slmc have continously refused to do so.
It is fair to say that this student has been smart enough not to buy into to corrupt boards with their own political agendas.
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Ruwan / March 12, 2017
When I look at these comments I feel repulsed, this sort of thinking from anti SAITM activists is REPULSIVE. I strongly believe that these students will do a better job than many of the current so called doctors who cannot even speak to patients properly. Whenever I get sick or my family gets sick, I have to wait for HOURS to see a doctor, this country lacks a sufficient number of doctors and this private institution is a step in the right direction to fixing that problem. As for ‘killing innocent patients’, seriously? As if state doctors don’t kill patients already, want proof? Just check Nawaloka’s track record. Sorry about this outburst but I weep for the state of the medical service in our country
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vetmahadeva / March 12, 2017
Ruwan,
“Whenever I get sick or my family gets sick, I have to wait for HOURS to see a doctor, this country lacks a sufficient number of doctors and this private institution is a step in the right direction to fixing that problem.”
The real problem here is not against the Private Medical Institutions for Sri Lanka – THE PROCEDURE ADOPTED TO ESTABLISH (or rather convert) SAITM as a MEDICAL DEGREE AWARDING INSTITUTE.
If correct procedure would have been adopted to get the recognition of SLMC before admitting the students there cannot be a reason to support the GMOA Trade Union Actions – the Authorities faltered and the GMOA and ALL USU are hanging on to that fault!
We all are in a process of rightly directing the authorities towards properly established private medical school!
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vetmahadeva / March 12, 2017
Ruwan,
“Whenever I get sick or my family gets sick, I have to wait for HOURS to see a doctor, this country lacks a sufficient number of doctors and this private institution is a step in the right direction to fixing that problem.”
The real problem here is not against the Private Medical Institutions for Sri Lanka – THE PROCEDURE ADOPTED TO ESTABLISH (or rather convert) SAITM as a MEDICAL DEGREE AWARDING INSTITUTE.
If correct procedure would had been adopted to get the recognition of SLMC before admitting the students there cannot be a reason to support the GMOA Trade Union Actions – the Authorities faltered and the GMOA and ALL USU are hanging on to that fault!
We all are in a process of rightly directing the authorities towards properly established private medical school!
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Eusense / March 12, 2017
CRK
Few questions,
why did you attend an International School rather than a public school?
Did you and your parents know that doing London A/L, you could not enter a state University?
Doing London A/L you knew that the only option you have is going abroad or getting into a private institution in SL. So did you find out before commencing SAITM studies whether that degree is register able with the SLMC?
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Ramzadeen / March 12, 2017
My cousin brother’s two daughters entered foreign universities, the countries far low standard in education than our country,(Bangladesh and Pakistan) spending millions, instead the money would have gone into our coffers. Further, the other expenses + the time waste too should be added. If our insane, egoist, politicized approach of our narrow minded guys succeed our country going to lose ,losing and will lose for-ever in education, economy and etc.
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Niluki / March 12, 2017
Well done chapani randika duwa on all your achievements. We need more hard workers like you. It is sad to see what biased parties that are promoting their own political agendas have done to you students. The public is with you stay strong and work hard. And make this country a better and developed nation by not following the footsteps of the gmoa and anthare that have done nothing but inconvenience the public!
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villageman / March 12, 2017
Here the question is very fundamental, whether to allow privatization of medical education or not. The end result will affect collectively, the community. Investing money to learn medicine will force the patients to pay more at the end. The service will become a business.
When there are thousands of free schools in Sri Lanka, your choice of international school shows the arrogance of wealthy parents. Don’t think money could buy everything.
The wealthy group who insult the government system and majority of poor Sri Lankan students, do not suggest a way to improve the system nor to help the poor students. Instead, they only try to prove the supremacy of wealth.
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rk / March 12, 2017
Stop saying money could buy everything!! cuz u can’t …people have their own personal reasons to enter international colleges. Not all parents are talented in bribing the principal and entering the best school in Sri Lanka.. some have got no choice. Atleast now she has done an A level examination that is recognised worlwide.. only the people in Sri Lanka have an issue with that
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Mary.K / March 12, 2017
A lot of students had to go to private schools because they didn’t get admission in schools that they applied close to their places. So please don’t insult others without knowing the facts. The least you can be is….humane.
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Townman / March 12, 2017
Gamaya, these kids who spend on education come from decent middle or upper middle class family. They dont value the money as you gamayas do. So, they would be much more ethical than we see you gamayas doing now
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jehan / March 12, 2017
well said. the jealous mentality in sri lanka to blame. country is not run by rule of law, but whim and fancies of the stupid politics.
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iddagoda / March 12, 2017
Very good read, it’s time we hear from saitm students, they deserve this as much as anyone out there.
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realdoctor / March 12, 2017
How much did u pay for your 4A? which cambridge? is it in ethiopia? I dont think a fool who want to became doctor bypassing a exam wolud be able to get even 4F
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Damien / March 12, 2017
I think any intelligent person who is aware of education knows Cambridge, this is the problem with the people of this country , never want to change or even let others change! So selfish, fighting against others education.
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rk / March 12, 2017
Dont judge others with the astounding amount of stupidity u hav cuz it seems to be boundless..
And a bit of advice …learn to freaking appreciate others achivemwnts when u know that u can never even reach any close to that !! Basic knowledge to live in the society i think u highly lack dat !
No wonder our country never develops due to fools like you
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Ruwan / March 12, 2017
Your ignorance knows no bounds, you can’t pay for 4As, these Cambridge papers are sent abroad to be marked by multiple certified examiners, please know the facts first. ‘a fool who want to became doctor bypassing a exam would be able to get even 4F’, the number of grammatical errors within this sentence makes my head spin, not to mention the fact that it makes no sense and sounds like your saying all doctors including state ones got 4Fs, it clearly shows the level of education you’ve received, go back to school and learn the facts before commenting on posts
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patient / March 12, 2017
Why all you cant say that we are ready to sit for any exam and prove your ability. Dont say we are ready for exam which is not held by SLMC. dont try to get an exam where you can pass by givving money.LOL. please dear there are a lot of thing you can do with the money in srilanka. but please please I beg u all, dont try to kill innocent public.
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rk / March 12, 2017
These students are ready to WRITE any exam AT ANY TIME! Dey have requested for it and please stop commenting without knowing your facts. Dey r even ready to write the same final exam as the other state faculties..
And bout killing patient……..I think you should go to some govenment hospitals and see how many patients die or get handicapped due to the doctors that pass out from so called “govenrment unis” LMFAO. and see for urslef who actually kills patients
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silva / March 12, 2017
heeheehee….
so u think this mentally retarded idiots with 120 laks degree who has never seen a patient going to save pwatients in future.RIP for u
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Perera / March 12, 2017
I think we can see who is mentally retarded here Silva.
And no, they have seen patients. One day they’ll maybe treat you if you are put back in Angoda
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suman / March 12, 2017
models are in action to advertise SAITM. new tactic by the great patientless NF hospital.
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rk / March 12, 2017
stop looking at the picture but read the content bro! Atleast have that kind of decency before commenting! Disgusting
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Ruwan / March 12, 2017
Your comment is so sexist, I truly believe that she is an actual student from SAITM and she has poured her heart out into this story. Shame on you for shunning her just because she’s a female. This sort of attitude is exactly what is driving this country backwards, among other things
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suman / March 12, 2017
I told models. models mean anybody represent a product. here product is SAITN. it can be even a boy model. see the commonsense level of the people who support the SAITM. you idiots all who failed AL are talking about medicine and suppoorting this idiots who want to bypass all exams and become doctors. get lost. run behind their money.
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Ruwan / March 12, 2017
Don’t try to cover your behind now bro, you said model and you said it because she was female, just admit that your mind is as corrupt as the slmc. I’m not running behind money whatever that means and I got 2As and a B from local syllabus for a levels so please shut your trap
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Malathi / March 12, 2017
Who’s money dumbass? Ignorant, sexist idiots like you are the reason this country will forever remain a developing country. The gmoa docs going for channeling ..are you talking about that money? Funny when you have no logical argument to make so you’d rather come out with the same crap that your anthare has taught you to parrot out. Go read the story. she’s got 4 A*s .
Next time you go for an anthare protest take a bar of soap with you . Scrub off all the lies and utter garbage that anthare has vomited into your head while you’re getting hit by water jets. Then go to the temple on your way home and pray that you have a big enough neurone to stop being so gullible and believe all the crap the anthare is feeding you and have enough common sense to get to know the real facts.
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Mary.K / March 12, 2017
You really think that’s what she getting 4 A* means? That just shows how cheap you are to say something like this!
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silva / March 12, 2017
ohh my god there are legal ways to become a doctor in SL but y these rich idiots selected illegal way? could anybody support these brtainless people who try to enter medical field via backdoor justify the shooting action of there CEO?
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Rich idiot / March 12, 2017
Mr Anthare Silva does it feel good to study from the tax payed from these “rich idiots” ?
There CEO doesn’t define them so keep that in mind.
Just because you say gon Katha here intelligent people will not mark the rest of your family members as Bulls so apply that scenarios to the CEO if you have the brains to do so.
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Ruwan / March 12, 2017
Just because you go to a private university doesn’t mean you are rich! And it’s not ‘illegal’ it’s just people like you and the so called doctors passing out of government unis that are preventing the production of doctors who would clearly be better than them
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Sherene Jayaweera / March 12, 2017
Did you run to the bathroom for a slog after seeing the picture SAMAN – the animal
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Ruwan / March 12, 2017
Dude seriously?
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rk / March 12, 2017
It is just disgusting to kno that people like this exist in SL…Just disgraceful. Men who cant even respect a woman.. they come commenting bout the rights of medical students. Biggest joke of the day
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