The first batch of medical students enrolled in the University of Moratuwa based on the results of the G.C.E. (Advanced Level) 2019 is scheduled to commence hospital-based clinical training in July 2025.

Approval has been granted previously to establish the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Moratuwa by utilizing the existing facilities of the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine and to use the hospital facilities of Dr. Nevil Fernando Hospital for hospital-based clinical training.

However, it has been shown that the utilization of Dr. Nevil Fernando Hospital for clinical training has been an issue as to the number of patients and the diversity of diseases of the patients being insufficient and the dearth of specialists.

Therefore,

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the joint proposal presented by the  Prime Minister in her capacity as a Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational education and the Minister of Transport, Highways, Port and Civil Aviation, to utilize Kaluthara Teaching Hospital and Children’s Hospital for Mothers and Children at Mount Lavinia to ensure providing quality hospital-based clinical training to the medical students and to transfer two (2) portions of  land owned by the Sri Lanka Transport Board and Road Development Authority located at Nagoda West Grama Niladhari Division of the Kaluthara Divisional Secretariat for the establishment of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Moratuwa.

The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to the resolution furnished by  the President in his office as the Minister of Defense to appoint retired Major General of Sri Lanka Army, K. H.P. Palitha Fernando to the post of the Director General of the Department of Civil Defense with immediate effect on contract basis for a period of one (01) year.

The Landslide Early Warning Centre of the National Building Research Organization [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Kandy Kurunegala and Matalae effective until 4.00pm today [21].

Accordingly,

Level II [Amber] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Doluwa and Ududumbara in the Kandy district and Rattota, Wilgamuwa, Yatawatta and Ukuwela in the Matale district.

Level I [Yellow] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Passara, Badulla and Hali Ela in the Badulla district, Pahathadumbara, Medadumbara and Panvila in the Kandy district, Rideegama in the Kurunegala district and Laggala Pallegama, Ambanganga Korale, Naula, Pallepola and Matale in the Matale district.