News
Medical Specialists urge govt. to defer enactment of KDU Bill to allow time for adequate consultation
The Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) yesterday called on the government to defer the enactment of the proposed Kotelawala Defence University Bill, providing an opportunity for adequate consultations from all the relevant stakeholders.
The AMS has, in a media statement ‘Proposed KNDU Bill – more questions than answers’ signed by AMS President Dr. Lakkumar Fernando and AMS General Secretary Dr. R. Gnanasekeram, requested the government not to repeat the same mistakes as predecessors who set up the North Colombo Medical College (NCMC) and SAITM.
Full text of the AMS statement: “As a responsible professional trade union of medical specialists who are concerned about the higher education in general and the QUALITY medical education in particular in our country, we would like to put forward following observations about the much-talked about proposed KNDU bill.
1. KDU is no more a “university established for a specific purpose” (mainly for military recruits) as it has day scholars following wide variety of courses for a fee. Further, the proposed KNDU bill gives powers to recruit “other persons” to KDU with no clear definition of who these other persons are.
2. Since the KDU is funded by the government (even though under different ministry) apparently with huge amount of tax payers’ money, we believe that the QUALITY of their courses (entry, process and exit) should be on par with UGC standards and other guidelines stipulated by relevant regulatory bodies.
3. By giving legal powers to recognize and affiliate other institutions to KDU under this proposed bill, we are going to establish another parallel institution to UGC in our country, funded by the tax payers’ money.
4. With more civilians planning to be recruited to this institution under “other persons “category, majority of the students here eventually will be civilians. Under these circumstances, we feel that the main governing body of this university should have majority of civilian educationists than military hierarchy who could well be political appointees.
5. If the KDU is empowered to recognize courses conducted by outside institutions to the conferment of their own degrees for civilians without the approval of the UGC, it can create an alternative pathway to civilian population to skip the standards of UGC which will undermine the purpose of the whole universities Act and the UGC.
6. If the UGC is given the authority to scrutinize the courses exclusively offered to the military as announced recently, it can undermine the confidentiality of the sensitive military sciences.
7. The role of the regulators of professional courses (eg: Sri Lanka Medical council) will unfairly be undermined leading to passing out of substandard medical and other professionals. It is pertinent to mention here that the minimum standards of medical education were enacted by the present government after a long delay which gave the necessary legal framework for the SLMC to regulate medical education. Hence, any regulation which can possibly by pass these standards will be detrimental to the medical education in Sri Lanka.
On principle, the AMS is not against QUALITY fee levying medical education in our country, if it is regulated and monitored by the UGC and the Sri Lanka Medical Council. However, lack of proper process and transparency will prevent the establishment of such fee levying institutions in Sri Lanka.
After careful consideration of above issues in the proposed bill, we would like to request the government to defer the enactment of this bill till we get the opportunity for adequate consultations from all the relevant stakeholders.
Further, we earnestly request the President and the government not to repeat the same historical mistakes our rulers did in the case of NCMC and SAITM, a few years back. It’s the responsibility of all of us to establish and protect QUALITY university education in our country.”
There has been a noticeable increase in the spread of Chikungunya in the city of Colombo, Kotte, and the suburbs of Colombo, according to the Health Ministry.
As of 14 March, the Weekly Epidemiological Report says 173 chikungunya cases have been reported from Colombo, Gampaha, and Kandy.
Acting Consultant Community Physician of the Ministry of Health Dr. Kumudu Weerakoon said that the Chikungunya virus had spread to Sri Lanka in 1960.
Meanwhile, Dr. Deepal Perera, Consultant Paediatrician at Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital, Colombo, told The Island yesterday that there had been an increase in the number of children affected by Chikungunya.
“To tackle this situation, it is extremely important to keep your homes, doorways, and school premises clean regularly,” he said.
“If a child has fever lasting more than two days, darkening around the nose, or joint pain, these could be symptoms of Chikungunya. In such cases, take the child to a doctor. Chikungunya is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The joint pain can persist for months. Therefore, we strongly urge both children and adults to take all precautions to avoid contracting Chikungunya.”
By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon and Chaminda Silva
‘Genocide Memorial’ in Canada
Mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown has slammed SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa over the latter’s recent statement regarding the monument that was inaugurated in Canada commemorating the victims of the final stages of the North East conflict.
In a statement on ‘X’, Brampton Mayor, Patrick Brown said, “The Rajapaksas’ opposition to the Tamil Genocide Memorial is the surest signal that we are on the right path recognising the innocent civilian lives lost at the hands of this family.”
Patrick Brown further said that if confident that no genocide occurred, the Rajapaksa family should fully cooperate with the International Criminal Court rather than obstructing justice and hiding from prosecution.
“This is their Nuremberg moment, and instead of facing accountability, this family hides in luxury protected by the Sri Lankan state. It’s shameful. The crimes against humanity committed by the Rajapaksa family rival Pol Pot, Slobodan Milosevic, Heinrich Himmler, and Flicien Kabuga. It’s a badge of honour that they object to our Canadian Tamil Genocide Memorial,” he added.
His remarks came in response to SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa’s recent statement that it was concerning that Canada has inaugurated a Tamil
Genocide Memorial when, under international law, no genocide has been proven or can be proven against the Sri Lankan military in its conflict with the LTTE terrorists.
“The so-called Tamil genocide monument appears to be a politically driven move by the Canadian government, which has long been influenced by certain factions within the Tamil diaspora. Rather than working towards peace and unity, these groups have fueled division for their own interests,” MP Rajapaksa said, in a statement on ‘X’.
Custodial death of domestic worker
The Colombo High Court yesterday fixed July 21 as the date for the pre-trial conference on a case filed against three police officers attached to the Welikada Police over the custodial death of a domestic worker in 2023.
When the case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge R.S.S. Sapuwida, Defence counsel informed court that they had not received some of the documents submitted in relation to the case. The judge instructed the State Counsel to ensure that the necessary documents were made available to the defence.
After considering all facts presented, the judge scheduled the pre-trial conference for July 21.
The victim, 41-year-old R. Rajakumari, a resident of Badulla, was arrested on May 11, 2023, following a complaint by her employer, Sudharma Nethicumara, alleging the theft of gold jewellery.
Rajakumari later died while in custody at the Welikada Police Station. Her family raised concerns over the circumstances that had led to her death, alleging that she may have been assaulted.
Later a disciplinary action was initiated against seven officers attached to the Welikada Police. A Sub-Inspector, two sergeants, and a constable were interdicted, while another constable and two Women Police Constables were transferred for the same reason.
BY AJA Abeynayake
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