SAITM issue: GMOA takes up AG’s conduct with Prez

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has complained to President Maithripala Sirisena against the Attorney General and his officers in respect of their conduct in the ongoing case concerning the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM).

In a letter dated June 6, 2017, signed by GMOA President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya and its Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge, the trade union has alleged that the AG thwarted its repeated attempts to inform courts of the correct position with regard to SAITM.

The GMOA has alleged that those representatives of the AG who had been assigned to the case before the Supreme Court maintained the stand they took at the Court of Appeal in respect the SAITM issue.

A senior spokesperson for the GMOA told The Island that it would be the responsibility of the government to take tangible measures to resolve the crisis. The official reiterated the commitment to a five-point joint proposal made by the Deans and teachers of the state medical faculties and the GMOA to resolve the crisis.

The proposals are (1) Gazetting of minimum standards of medical education and legalising technical report of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (2) Higher Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella informing the court that the SAITM has not received SLMC approval (3) suspension of SAITM enrollment (4) suspension of awarding degrees and (5) setting up a committee to address the grievances of those studying there subject to SLMC approval.

The GMOA has appreciated opportunity they have been given to intervene in the SAITM following Thursday’s ruling given by the SC.(SF)