28 March, 2024

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My SAITM Story

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.

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Latest comments

  • 31
    53

    Saitm is fraud institution from its beginning. They have misled the innocents parents.what they have done is similar to saki thy and golden keys scam.now they try to become genuine. You can’t make a doctor like making bread . There should be proper standardised institution for that.

    • 31
      21

      predictor,

      Ane wesigeputho, tho wage moda huththek. Where were you mode fucker when saitam was started during Baya Gotha’s time? You fucker didn’t emit a fart about it then. Now you ponnaya is hanging your ponna kuttama from the roof top crying foul. Umbala wage ponnayo hinda thamai me rata ballata gihin thiyenne. Saitam must be allowed to continue as a public venture with the government facilitating hospital training for its students. Saitam must not be wasted like Ragama Medical Faculty. This country badly needs private medial colleges to raise the standard of murderer doctors now practicing as government doctors extorting poor patients holding them as hostages to win their dark, barbaric, uncivilized and selfish demands.

      • 19
        5

        Silva, I do not agree with your language, but the trend is correct..

        Secondly knowledge and skills are things that you can acquire at any given moment in life.

        I think the stand taken by the GMOA,Medical Students is without substance. They have not provided any arguable reasons , they are attempting to scare the people.

      • 7
        0

        Yes Silva king of Wesige putha is still roaming.

        Current men have failed to take him by his horns yet why ? We the injured are set to hurting mode – 2 years gone, how many more years we need to wait to see – the rope around the neck of Rajakshe men will be tightened. ?

        Thadjudeen does not deserve to be treated that way, but Rajapakshes FOR SURE.

        SAITM is saitm – its pioneers are Rajapakshes. Idiots cant be pioneers for any edcuational institutes.

        Please students, go and sue against the UGC since they are the ones that misled you. Each and every student should have gone UGC interview is the fact.
        If UGC was no aware of the recognition of the institute by SLMC – that should be the fault of UGC not of students OR their parents.

        I BELIEVE TODAY; RAJAPALSHE ERA ALLOWED UNETHICAL MEDICAL DRUGS ENTERING TO THIS COUNTRY- THEY HAD NO WHAT SO EVER QUALITY CONTROL – INNOCIENT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CAUGHT BY RAJAPAKSHE MAFIA ::: at least now peoples real eyes should be opened.

      • 4
        0

        You may have learnt it from Rajapakshe rascals right ? I mean wesige putha language… ha ha h… Else, you could also pass the view in a decent langauge. That would have been much nicer as always…

        We are all against any half baken projects. Had the rascals done the job covering all the presteps- nothing would have created to worry SAITM students and their families.

        Rajapakshe idiots did the surgery not thinking twice. They only thought aboutthe commissions that filled their pockets.

        For me if there would be open BEHEADING ceremony to the style of SHARIA LAW appliers.. the Rajapakshe and former minister of hIGHER education would be the ones on the top of the list to have been beheaded the manner that innocient girl Ryssanna faced it.

    • 26
      13

      predictor

      Sorry I totally disagree with you!

      “You can’t make a doctor like making bread . There should be proper standardised institution for that.”

      I would also say you cannot make doctor out idiots. Most the students in the State medical faculty are admitted through district basis system after having obtained simply 3 simple passes when students from the good districts are denied admission even having obtained 2A’s and something.

      It is only fair to bring back the all island merit basis system, as all are equal in this country and the student who has score higher marks must have a better chance and choice than those with lesser aggregate and results.

      It is utter jealousy when I see many writes and says that money cannot buy a degree. Sorry you are wrong! It was because of money they are punished for going to a good school and have to obtain a punitive high grade aggregate to enter the state medical faculty or Engineering faculty when people from the rural schools are given favouration over the ‘rich’ counterpart to enter the state medical faculty with low results and aggregate. So what is wrong in using money to help them. when these students can be so punished for their parents having money!

      Remember most students in SAITM have obtained better results than many in the state university and they have joined SAITM to fulfill their dreams which was unfairly denied due to the District quota system which was introduced in the 70’s by greedy and selfish politicians to increase their votes as the wining votes are totally with the rural areas and not the main cities.

      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.

      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.

      • 4
        1

        It is better if the district quota system is removed gradually from now on. The government should have a long term plan to uplift the standards of schools in undeveloped areas to achieve this.

        However, district quota system should not be used as an excuse to setup private medical colleges and to force GMOA and SLMC to recognize them.

      • 8
        0

        The SL government has allowed private International schools in Sri Lanka and a large percentage of the students in these school come from middle class families whose parents are mostly salary earners managing with difficulty to give their children a better English education/future. What will happen to these students when they complete their secondary education and opt for higher studies?

        What about the children of the Mid-East expatriates who either are studying in Sri Lankan schools there (if available) or in foreign schools? Where can they go for higher studies? Those parents who can afford send their children to foreign universities (they stop sending money/foreign exchange to Sri Lanka) but what about those who cannot afford. What is the plight of these children?

        • 1
          2

          UGC has reserved 0.5% of total intakes for foreign exam results holders and charge nominal fee from them. If the number of such candidates significantly increase, you can demand UGC to increase the percentage. Instead, opening private medical colleges to make everybody doctors will affect affordable healthcare system of the country.

          • 1
            0

            villageman

            If you have the money, anybody and everybody in Sri Lanka with 3 credit passes in A/L bio-science can go to private medical colleges in Russia, China, Bangladesh, Nepal and come back to Sri Lanka as doctors. However, you get a pain in your ass the moment private medical colleges are opened in Sri Lanka. What logic is that? You sound like an uncivilized villageman.

            • 1
              3

              The number of foreign degree holders is not a threat to the free medical care facility in Sri Lanka. SAITM will open a can of selfish worms who intend to make medical care a business.

              • 1
                1

                Villageman

                What stupid logic is that?
                Free medical care facility in Sri Lanka is provided by the government, NOT SAITM.

                Those foreign degree holders from private medical colleges in Russia, China, Bangladesh, and Nepal spend much more than what the SAITM students pay. How will they recover the money they spent?

                Why should our children go to private medical colleges in Russia, China, Bangladesh, and Nepal if they have it in Sri Lanka? If the government cannot afford to increase the number of state universities, instead of sending our children to private medical colleges in Russia, China, Bangladesh, and Nepal, they should allow local private medical colleges which of course should be either affiliated to the local existing mainstream state-run universities or well recognized international universities that can provide world-class international standard education.
                The UGC should form a regulatory body to supervise the standards, the admissions, curriculums, examinations, awarding of degrees etc. and make sure they are geared to meet national goals.

      • 0
        0

        Lowest cutoff marks for medicine is about 1.4 in nuwaraeliya district. People with 3S usualy get minus z scores. So it is imposible for them to enter a state medical school. Atleast they need ABC or BBB to get that much z score.

    • 13
      1

      The total number of places in universities available in Sri Lanka is far less than the number of students who seek to join them. Due to the limited number of state universities and non-availability of private universities, most of the capable and intelligent students from both urban and village areas are deprived of their basic rights to higher (tertiary) education. These students have to either go abroad or do some part time foreign courses like CIMA, BCS, EC, etc. Some of their parents spend their lifelong savings, sell or mortgage their properties and sometimes obtain bank loans to send these children overseas for higher education.

      If we take the Asian countries, I am sure Sri Lanka is having the highest number of students doing foreign exams on higher studies such as CIMA, Engineering Council, BCS, ACS and so on. Many developed countries earn quite a portion of their national GDP by selling education. Just imagine the amount of foreign exchange our country is spending on all these foreign exams. All these can be reduced if private universities are allowed.

      If the students who can afford are allowed to go abroad spending thousands of dollars (to countries ranging from USA, UK, Australia, Russia to China, India, Bangladesh and Nepal) to do their higher studies, why cannot they do it in their home country which will at least reduce the foreign exchange spent and will provide a secure atmosphere for the students (especially female students)? They will no longer need to travel out of the country and stay away from home and loved ones. If an opportunity is given, it will not only save valuable foreign exchange but also will bring children of expatriates back to the country for higher education which will again bring foreign exchange.

      • 5
        0

        Why is the government so scared of these jealous students who are protesting against those who deserve higher education (free or paid)?

        Why are our children going to Russia, China, Malaysia, India, Bangladesh and Nepal for higher studies when actually children in those countries should come to us?

        Why cannot the government make Sri Lanka the hub of education in the region by not only attracting private (Local & foreign) universities but also foreign students by offering quality education at an affordable rate?

        Can the government increase the number of state universities in Sri Lanka (at least one in every district) or can they expand the already existing universities to accommodate more students? Can the government establish paid universities in Sri Lanka under the UGC or expand the already existing universities to accommodate students for a fee, whilst continuing the free education system, somewhat similar to those government hospitals with paying wards. A system that will not only allow many to obtain higher education paying a fees but also help the universities to offer more seats for free education to the under privileged.

        If the above is not possible, then the government should allow both local and foreign private universities in Sri Lanka. It is high time that the government should totally ignore any kind of protests and seriously think about this matter on a very urgent basis.

        • 3
          0

          It is just lack of proper information. Derana and Hiru are TV senders mushroomed by black money earned by Rajapakshe men. They have been Number one senders in this country… can you imagine ?

          You know in a country every second is being weakened by Yantra Mantra Nakshashtra .. reports say it is over 60% of the population is by now caught by them. That says everything about the cross section of the society. If they are asked to eat dogs droppings for any magical gains.. they would do .. Asiris Sansui or the like fooled the nation… and other Hakkgediya promoters made it too… that is how modayas have been further fooled for their commercial gains. If i WERE president, would have guts to confistcate the assets fo Asiri and Keerthi… or the like men..

          If lemon being cut would turn out to be red, no matter any other cause made it red, but people believe in… we the analysts have proved, hibiscus colours cut the lemon so that the watchers can see it was BLOOD…. but the the fools believe in… can you imagine this is srialnka… the paradise… of fools.

          Be them Uni profs, Politicians, professionals such as Docs, Engs teachers etc are among those who have been danced to the tune of the ILLITERATE sorcery men.

          Most of all, it is believed former president is used to wear Talishments ( upto 40 in numbers) around his visible and unvisible parts of the body. Even today, like child would play, he is seen playing iwth a magical ball whereever he is there. Lately I happened to see his right wrist was worn by a black-ball wristet or the like.
          The message the kind of ill born men sowed all the germs people to stay so, so that their political wills can easily be harvested… however, the change is made on 08th Jan 2015 – but very same folks seem to be in the same mode.. no matter any injustice would not be served enough…

          That is the reason by today, not a single man to be convicted though FCID is in place

          Current duo is caught by previous debts- and the society dominated by evil than the goodies seem not focusing on it well…

          Say, if the men with moutanious charges, and provable evidence are there, still they are free to move scot free.. This is the situation in this country.

          Thanks to all that saved it from the way it was marching… but still it is lke moving with bandy legs..

          Almost everything is rotten to the core by this day.

          That is it.. so you dont have materials either, to give a life to them. Mastricht treaty invested in Germany, after WW2 left everything in wreck.. but today nobody does the same to srilanka right. ?

    • 3
      7

      The man who made it possible was none other than the Mafia king who not only brought SAITM but so many other evil projects.
      Remember Mattala, Hambantota waraya, Conference halls, Srilanken airline to have taken away from Emirates, Lotus tower and so many other projects.

      The problem is grass eating folks allowed him to take the country to that far in the line of high crimes.

      I really dont know even today, there are masses who lick his balls. This nation is filled with all abusive uncultured rascals.

      • 2
        0

        This means not that I am against private medical colleges with high gurantees of high quality as is the case in UK or any other parts of the world. The problem is even if UGC approval was there, SLMC was not made to give the approval.. in the end degree recognition was blocked… poor students and their kith and kin were made blind.. for their calculated agendas. If anything was done by Mafia king, it was half baken. This animals should deserve long term jail sessions for all the torments that the poor students are compelled by this day.

    • 3
      0

      Typical idiotic mind set. Why cant you make a doctor by PVT colleges if the candidates are eligible students ?

      What matters is former state run by Mafia king et al did not focus on the issues of recognition of the degrees adequately. They thought, so long their commissions are saved, what more them to check further ?

      Just tell us any single project that the Mafia king et al intervened and left so complete as it should have been in compliance with world standards ?

      Be it with Mattala Airport, Katunayak Airport, Lotus post, other so called deve projects… most of them are half baken..

      I believe these men should be beheaded including that President of GMOA for all the mess created to this innocient students of the nation.

      Jealousy and malacy can take us forwards, if our children compelte their schooling by pvt colleges, why not PVT medical college be the case ?

      Even if you double the amount of medical students /year, there will still be students to enroll local medical faculties. For a hungry nation of our kind, whose bood was sucked by Rajaakshe clan for another 2 decades, you cant afford to allow free state universities more. That is no means the reality
      In that context, people should sense it.. be it via pvt or state, so long quality is the same. nothing is wrong with MEDICAL OR any other degrees being offered by pvt colleges basta

    • 2
      0

      Provide free education only up to secondary/high school (Advanced level).

      In most of the developed and developing countries higher (university) education is not free. Education is free only up to high school (secondary) level. People do not value anything they get free and a good example is the universities in Sri Lanka which have become hotbeds of political violence and intimidation. In other countries even the state universities have financial and administrative control and of course, academic independence. To do this, the students should be asked to pay nominal fees. Interest-free student loans should be freely available (especially for the under privileged students from low-income families) to cover the fees and living expenses like in many developed countries where the re-payments begin only after they obtain employment. This way, the government can overcome many unmanageable problems including abuse of state universities by the students and ensure sound education, good staff and value for money. In such seats of higher learning no political meddling, student clashes, threats to the staff, brutal ragging and boycotting of classes will be tolerated. A socio-economic environment leading to such disturbances will not be there in these establishments. There will be no opportunities for using university students as political tools.

      At present, the free higher education in Sri Lanka is catering professionals for the needs of well developed countries at the cost of the taxpaying people of Sri Lanka. The students get a free secondary and sometimes tertiary education in Sri Lanka and then spend the Sri Lankan foreign exchange in going to developed countries for further higher education. After spending all that Sri Lankan money for their total education in Sri Lanka and abroad, some of them end up serving and paying tax to those countries with no benefit what so ever to Sri Lanka.

  • 8
    1

    @unknown23
    If you took my words literally, then I feel more sad for you. It was just an expression, not like I can ever take the life of a person willingly.
    Why do you think students go through so much hard work and pain just to be a doctor? You think its for the money? If they didn’t have the true passion to save lives, what would drive them to do this? Anyone would just give up. Think about that before taking an expression too literally, and then accusing me saying I’m heartless.

  • 14
    5

    Honestly reading the comments of the anti-SAITM people makes me come up with just one word ..CHEAP! Its hilarious that they are so areogant that they drag parents in to this.. so wait.. you guys were brought up by your parents to be this ungraceful and foul mouthed??? Damn they must be dying in pure shape and probably regret ever ‘making’ you ?
    You wanna be a doctor? First learn to respect a fellow human being..get your ethics right.. because thats what makes a human and then you talk about how your goddamned policies are right because no one really cares for the openion of hooligans.
    And you are smart you say??? Hahahaha who you tryina kid men?? Ifbyou were smart you would be busy with your books not talking all roudy and walking on the streets..thats what drug addicts do ? lame lot noh you all are.. good in a way.. stress relieving when you guys do stupid stuff and make us laugh ??

  • 11
    9

    I think the fundamental mistake is not checking the university before enrolling. You have been duped with your consent and you allow yourself to be duped even now. When you studied in an international school you know that unless you do the Local A/L you cannot enter a state university. It cannot be that you were unaware of this. If you wanted to study in Sri Lanka you should have then done your local ALs. Instead of which you try to manipulate the system. Ask for your money back from the mudalali and ask for answers rather than wasting your time getting manipulated.

    • 10
      4

      Whether they do locals or london is their choice. However their fight is also to make a proper path for people passing our from international schools since, bright children are present in those schools too. Not everyone has the ability and talent to bribe the well known schools in Sri Lanka, therefore not everyone can reach good government schools in Sri Lanka. So providing a medical college in sri lanka for students passing out from international schools is a crime for u ? or is it that u kno u have no way of reaching it and that u r jeolous of the ones who hav the ability to do so?

  • 8
    2

    Here, this presentation of Ms.Chapani Radika Kandanaarachci has brought us to another NEW subject to discuss. Her entry qualification to follow Medical Studies at SAITM begins with her qualifications acquired from another “Private Educational Institute” viz. attending studies at Royal Institute International, Nugegoda and obtaining 4As of Cambridge A Level Examination. What is the Government policy on recognition given to these “Private Educational Institutes” offering tuition and preparing students to sit examinations of “Foreign Institutions”? Are those qualifications obtained from Foreign Institutes” recognized for entry to the Government Universities? If recognized, are those students receive equal status as students coming through the Government examinations? Or are they considered as “Private” and a Fees charged as against “Free” education?. Isn’t it time to discuss this matter too? Some commentators would be out there to provide information on that aspect in view of the large number of such “Private International Institutes” that have sprung up in the country.

    • 2
      1

      Douglas, why cant the students go against UGC legally ?

      Since each student was approved by UGC as I read somewhere. UGC is the highest office in lanken University systems. Mid 80ties I had an interview with them. My father wanted me to go for an interview with them for a russian scholarship. Anyway, that did not work out for limited chances. However, I moved to Europe and COMPLETED my Education in Germany. If UGC to have kept silent not warning about the degree recognition, it can also be comparable to a doctor just prescribe harmful drugs to the nation or not ?

      I believe, if any student would stand up and go against UGC, the medical council has to accept that there had been no such standards- or hidden ordinance or whatsoever to stand on the way of the degree completion at SAITM. And if the lectuerers are the same former teachers from local unis… quality being given at the institute should be more not less.

      Just like PVT media men sowed their seeds Rajapakshe to stay in power – misleading own folks this way can have greater impact for the future this country.

    • 4
      1

      I know for a fact that Cambridge OL and AL are of much higher standard than local OL or AL. Private institutions like R.I only prepare students for this prestigous examination and that does not de-value the quanlification at all. If a givenment body (ministry of education bench mark local A/L vs Cambridge A/L, later will come out on top.
      Charaka

  • 9
    3

    It’s time this country moved forward, stopped listen to unions, and help bring forth private medical universities – just because they are private does not mean quality is automatically compromised.

    Nationalizing SAITM is not the answer – it is just history repeating itself. And if we as a country keep doing that – how can we ever move forward.

    If quality is the issue that concerns all the ‘anti-SAITM’ folk out there – the best solution would be to set a common paper for both state and private students – that way – you know that who ever gets through is competent enough and you can not unfairly accuse the other side of being less than you.

    State faculty students should also realize that maybe its time people starting questioning and looking in to their quality as well. They do not share the same glory that their predecessors have – standards have been dropping – so much so that they don’t even make the top 200 in asia – if the ‘best’ medical college in the country has such a low rank – shouldn’t we as patients in the system be questioning what type of doctors are coming into the system to treat us from state faculties? But yet theses students think they are so great. It is ridiculous.

    I do not know of any other ‘reputed’ medical college that lets their students sit on pavements for days on end. What kind of quality education is that? I saw them myself sitting on the pavement chit chatting on mats instead of being in a classroom or ward learning.

    Lastly, some one must knock it into their hard head that this is not FREE EDUCATION – just education that us being paid for by someone else – hard earned tax payers money – and they are ungrateful, wasting, arrogant children – if they are sitting on a pavement, missing class protesting against children who actually want to learn so much so they paid to do it. The government should start re thinking how much money should be wasted on them and maybe they should be the ones who learn to value an education.

    I highly doubt SAITM students just do medicine because their parents have spare cash. No one is silly enough to waste five years + of their life like that. Lots of other things to do with ‘spare cash’

  • 7
    3

    yes we agree
    Eastern and rajarata has less Prof .
    because we are not rich enough to buy professors.
    but we are fortunate enough to have
    qualified
    good teachers

    yes we dont have
    expensive dummys
    but we are fortunate
    enough to have
    adequate paients to learn
    our clinicals

    we dont have
    modern building
    but we have strong building with
    strong foundation

    we dont have rich
    students
    but we have talented students
    who say no to exam
    at any time

    medicine is not a study
    it is a practice

    medicine is not
    a 3D video game
    to be proud about your modern dummy

    we are not fighting against
    your rights
    we are fighting for the
    patient`s rights!

    • 0
      0

      silva,

      [Edited out] . Keep the melancholy fucked up versus you vomit here to be sung on commode and then wipe your ass cleaning the smear of government subsidized commodities you ate last night while writing the above lie. You hired [Edited out] of JVP paternity, Hotugami upbringing and Ananthareeya Karmic connection to Antharaya is the source and vehicle of all the maladied ideas and troubles in the country. How the [Edited out] do you fight for patient’s rights while denying them their right to life? If I were the President [Edited out] of this country you are the first [Edited out] I will hang on gallows.

  • 7
    6

    Say whatt, you don’t even have the courage to give your real name. Most of the international schools offer students the choice of local AL. If she wanted to stay in the ‘motherland’ and study medicine she should have done that. Instead they chose to go to a fraudulent institution. I can assure you that I don’t need to be jealous of anyone. If a private medical college were to be established in Sri Lanka it should be non profit only and externally scrutinised and SLMC approved. Not this Upadi Kade!
    I feel very sorry for this girl. Child don’t waste any more time in the clutches of these unscrupulous businessman. If you have the marks, ask for your money back and go and study in a recognised medical college.

  • 6
    6

    Champani! You are a beautiful and talented ‘lotus’ in the mud; the issue here is not as light as you think and try to portray. It is a much deeper dilemma and invites a lot of troubles within the medical field in the future! It is unfortunate that young people like you are entangled in this messy issue, but the answer is more complex and complicated than you and your parents may discuss as the SAITM issue. There are millions of Sri Lankans and international professionals who trust Prof. Carlo Fonseka and you can not just dismiss his stance!
    On the other hand, look at the drama being played around it today! Who orchestrated it? A responsible medical institute would be very careful of what they do and what they say through their CEO!
    I hope an acceptable and unbiased solution that helps improve our medical system be reached in the near future.

    • 2
      0

      I agree with this contributor. While I sympathize with this student and her mates, I too feel that this issue is well beyond what she has projected.

      A word of caution to these young ladies; it is not advisable to display your picture/photo in this type of forum as it attracts some unnecessary and wile comments, as we have seen. Yes, your story alone without the accompanying photos should be adequate.I wonder who thrust you into this?

      Sadly, institutions that expose its students to this type of wile comments instead of protecting them could never be considered the crusaders for private education but only mere mercenaries. Who would subject its students to agony of this nature without agreeing to a collaborative effort with the State when it has been more or less on offer, unless the motive is purely monetary? So maybe it is time that the students found a new champion in ‘themselves’ and gravitated towards conciliation not confrontation. After all what you want is to be a practitioner in medicine and like it or not SLMC holds the key.

  • 4
    0

    It’s good and civilised that you have thus presented your point of view. I has helped change my opinion about the value that I should place on SAITM.

    I’ve commented on the other two articles as well. I hope that you are working on this as a team. If any more articles are written try to give more imaginative titles to them!

    Your article reads more smoothly than the other two. Why then have I commented more on the others? Don’t ask! Remember the importance of team work.

  • 1
    0

    All I would say is once the district quota system was established from 1974 the place of merit got the backseat. Now the cream of society being selected to the University is simply a fantasy. Since most are rural areas and is politically advantageous this dubious and unfair district basis was created.There are many students with poor results and low aggregate found places in University due to the unfair district basis displacing many candidates with good AL results just because they are from good schools.

    It is only fair in a country where all citizens are equal, in a exam that is common to all merit should be the sole criteria for admission as it was prior to 1974. The candidate who scored higher marks should stand above a candidate with lower marks.

    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. Now the standards have dropped drastically due to such poor quality students being admitted.

    So what is wrong for such capable students to seek a private medical college to fulfill their aspirations which was unfairly snatched from them simply to satisfy greedy and selfish politicians.

    I see many write in these forums that money cannot buy a degree. Sorry that is not correct wrong! In the same spirit I would also say you cannot make doctor out of idiots. It was because of the money many students are punished for going to a good school and have to obtain a punitive high grade and aggregate to enter the state medical faculty or Engineering faculty when people from the rural schools are given favouration over the ‘rich’ counterpart to enter the state medical faculty with low results and aggregate. So what is wrong in using money to help them to also fulfill their dreams, when these students can be so punished for their parents having money! All these heat from the GMOA is purely due to jealousy when many of the members are doctors who entered getting very poor results solely because of the district basis and they do not want these students with higher grade and aggregate they unfairly displaced to come back and haunt them!

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    Thank you Champani for the enlightening article.
    It is sad that Sri Lankan students in state or private institutes have to waste their precious time facing these types of issues. It is not the fault of the students but politicians and to an extent general public who get cheated by them over and over. whether we like it or not our system of education has been a failure in terms of delivering a worth while return for the country and its people. Otherwise there won’t be association like Unemployed graduates who pass out from state universities who enjoyed free education right through out their lives(paid by the public funds).This is not intended to insult them ,but is a fact. what the public expect from the educated is not Protest marches cultivating hatred amongst its citizens but to be resourceful. Education must come within a self. Not only through books. There is nothing to fear in voicing the fact that the GMOA along with some politicians are trying to meet their unhealthy agendas riding on SAITM issue. Let the public realise the truth and not succumb to the pressure created by these parties.Let all get together to protect the Youth of this country (whether from State or private Institutions) who will be tomorrows leaders. Hopefully, The Government will have a lasting solution while streamlining the Private as well as State universities. Hope our education system will create law abiding Educated citizens who will not waste their lives as well as the lives of others while practising what they learnt best in their schools and universities.Who are willing to coexist in a civilised society. May all Good Forces Bless Sri Lanka.

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    There are 428 students get 3 A , s in local advanced level last year , some may not be able to enter medical faculty You did a wrong decesion to do cambridge advanced level. Why did not do local A/L and try to ibtain free medical degre rather than donating to SAITM

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    If you really believe in Sri Lanka , why did not you compete in Sri Lankan ALs lol
    Did cambridge O/L and A/L coz wanted save money in Sri Lanka LOL

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    WHY DOES NOT MR GIVE HIS COMMENTS ON THIS ISSUE AS IT WAS HE WHO GAVE NEVILLE FD. RS 600 MILLION OF TAX PAYERS MONEY TO START SAITM.. iF THERE ARE ANY SHORT COMMINGS LET US DISCUS AND SOLVE THEM WITHOUT ROAMING THE STREETS LIKE WILD ASSES SBSIDISED WITH FUNDS FROM BANKRUPT POLITICIANS WHO WANT TO GRAB POWER AT THE COST OF THE INNOCENT STUDENTS.

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    With the interest shown by the public with their comment it is evident that this is critical subject for the fabric of society in Sri Lanka. Some facts I wanted to state here:
    Sri Lanka has 1 doctor for 44700 citizens meaning we are very much short of doctors; and at the rate they have opportunity we not be able to provide the supply for the demand.
    Doctors who qualify on government expenses leave the country to better prospects.
    However much people protests, fact remains that government does not have fund and resource to facilitate all those who pass A/L exam to enter Universities.
    Under graduate who learn in universities such as SITAM pay their own money and is not a burden for the economy and doing so they give a slot to another person in the campus who could not offered to have pay for their education. Further those children will not waste their time protesting as they know how much their parents toil to get them to the Universities.
    Sri Lanka losses billions due the fact children are sent by parents to be educated in Foreign Universities. This many of they do with lot of difficulties at time selling their belongings.
    Doctors who are protesting against SITEM are utterly jealousy and selfish they see it as an avenue to lose their hard earned demand and losing their ability to blackmail the state and the government.
    Therefore I suggest not only SITEM be allowed but also many such Private Universities should be opened. Only issue I have is the government should regularize and have the same standard maintained for both in private and public Universities with same exams be held for all undergraduates.
    I think it is time this topic be brought to the border public debate and I feel majority of the people are against these selfish doctors move.

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    With the interest shown by the public with their comment it is evident that this is critical subject for the fabric of society in Sri Lanka. Some facts I wanted to state here:
    Sri Lanka has 1 doctor for 44700 citizens meaning we are very much short of doctors; and at the rate they have opportunity we not be able to provide the supply for the demand.
    Doctors who qualify on government expenses leave the country to better prospects.
    However much people protests, fact remains that government does not have fund and resource to facilitate all those who pass A/L exam to enter Universities.
    Under graduate who learn in universities such as SITAM pay their own money and is not a burden for the economy and doing so they give a slot to another person in the campus who could not offered to have pay for their education. Further those children will not waste their time protesting as they know how much their parents toil to get them to the Universities.
    Sri Lanka losses billions due the fact children are sent by parents to be educated in Foreign Universities. This many of they do with lot of difficulties at time selling their belongings.
    Doctors who are protesting against SITEM are utterly jealousy and selfish they see it as an avenue to lose their hard earned demand and losing their ability to blackmail the state and the government.
    Therefore I suggest not only SITEM be allowed but also many such Private Universities should be opened. Only issue I have is the government should regularize and have the same standard maintained for both in private and public Universities with same exams be held for all undergraduates.

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    Don’t worry daughter. Just because most of the people are silent that does not mean those people are with the uncivilized ANTARE. You continue with studies. All the best to SAITM and its students!

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    Medical education should not be privatised. Why won’t you apply for a scholarship and go abroard as you have good results.

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    Affiliate saitm to KDU as its civil wing. Nobody will be bothered.

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    Affiliate saitm to KDU as its civil wing. Nobody will be bothered.

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    Abolish SAITM, abolish all the private degree awarding institutes. Get students to government faculties for money. 2.5 million for medicine. Stop private practice for government Doctors. Let the money paid doctors to do private practice. Get international school students to government uniform money.

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    These what we call educated idiots. My point is she deserves this

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    Well said Radhika . We need many more SAITAM s. Not only SAITAMs all govt. owned business undertakings should be privatized and run more efficiently. If there is a quality problem doctors should co-operate to correct it by allowing clinical practice at govt. hospitals.

    The entire world has embraced private sector lead growth policies. Why not Srilanka.

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    Well said Radhika. We need many more SAITAMs. Not only that all govt. owned business undertakings should be privatized commencing with loss making ones. The entire world has embraced private sector lead growth. Why not us. If there is a quality problem with SAITAM let us correct correct it not kill it.

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    Hi

    I think the whole purpose of this forum is lost on everyone. Everyone’s having a field day having a go at each other. Please stick to the real issues b’cos we need to help these State and SAITM students & not contribute to the doctrine of confusion that the culprits on both sides want at the cost of the students’ future.

    Firstly, true the final goal is well beyond the SAITM issue but let us go one step at a time.

    Now the big questions:

    Did SAITM follow correct procedure to conduct the MBBS program?
    Did UGC grant approval to SAITM for the MBBS program and if it did, was it as a whole or only on a batch by batch basis? If so why?
    Did SLMC grant approval or not for this program?

    In view of the above, actually the question of law before Courts, with all due respect to the lawyers who framed the issues, should be whether or not SAITM had obtained legitimacy to conduct a program in medicine ( not management) & if such legitimacy had been obtained then was SLMC approval obtained prior to conducting the course. The question of whether or not standards with respect to clinicals and other medico/technical requirements is not a question of law but an issue to be decided upon by the approval granting authority for medical practitioners.

    Once these issues are out of the way, then irrespective of the legitimacy of SAITM or its right to conduct the MBBS course, all State and Private agencies,educationists as well as the public should really prod the government, SLMC, current management of SAITM and whoever is a stumbling block to a positive outcome, to move towards an mutually acceptable way out of this current impasse. Let a private-public collaboration emerge and let there be a new management for this institution, one that is bent on positively shaping the future of these innocent children as well as that of our country – not making money or following some selfish Agenda out of a sad situation.

    Come on folks; you are attacking in the wrong direction and the wrong group. That is what these selfish mercenaries want. Think of our children and our country.

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    Good ~Article by Radhika Kandanaarachchi and appreciate her for contribute her real feeling very courageously when there is so much political maneuvering and media extravaganza

    Specially she has explained the plight of the private international school students very well as follows.

    “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 agree with her that there are lot of bright students who have obtained 4 A’s at A/L and unable to get a place in a government university. All these protest marches against SAITM instigating students are a political agenda by politicians with vested interest who use students as scapegoat to create political anarchy in order to bring down a government.

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      Hi, long talk makes no sense, but to be honest, the whole Sri Lankan education system is a disaster! Whether one brings a myriads of arguments denying it or not!

      Before the colonial occupations, we never had such problems in any areas and anyone who knows his/her history, know what I mean here! Just wake people!

      cheers.

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    Your aim is to study medicine in Sri Lanka. So why did not you do local advanced level.? Your Cambridge results will not guarantee a place in local advanced level if you did because local exam is harder than cambridge or edexcell exam. if you get 3A ,s in Colombo district there is no gurantee that you will be selected for medicine because you need to score high value in Z score. Last year there were 428 students obtained 3A, s island wide.

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    Interesting comments for and against SAITM. According to SAITM their standards are equivalent to any reputed medical college abroad. Foreign students from faculties in Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh where students are exposed to procedures which could be higher than those available in the local faculties are compelled to sit the ERPM by the SLMC to be qualified to be registeredas a doctor in Sri Lanka. If SAITM standards are good why dont they also request to sit the ERPM and prove they are equally good. Don’t you think its grossly unfair to impose ERPM on foreign students and not on SAITM who say they are equally good.. Why is everyone fighting shy of talking about ERPM for SAITM. Impose ERPM on SAITM, prove you are good and shut the door on protesters and inconveniences to the man on the road.

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    I would like to mention some arguments here as what she says is partially correct and she does not speak about the injustice to students who do not get entrances to Unis because of the “system” of district basis! No one talks about it and that is the main cause of the problem. And I know that it could be solved, but it will never happen in SL! The two which do not agree is:

    1) 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?

    2)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.

    As always the case, She just speaks as many of the so called educated, only through their own egos! Not in the perspective of the general interests, and that is very sad!

    PS.: And “WHO” are they?, what she mentions as :”we are dedicating to our education and HOW MUCH WE DESERVE IT.”!

    Cheers.

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