SAITM controversy raised in Parliament

The controversy over the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) in Malabe was raised in Parliament today.

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake alleged that SAITM was involved in fraud and the failure by the new Government to take action against the institute proves that the new Government is also supporting fraud and corruption.

He said that SAITM continues to deceive the public by offering degrees not recognized by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC).

Dissanayake said that the SLMC had informed the Ministry of Health that it does not recognize the degrees offered by SAITM.

The SLMC had also published newspaper advertisements saying it does not recognize degrees offered by SAITM but SAITM had later published advertisements saying its degrees were recognized locally and internationally.

Dissanayake however said that SAITM misled the public by claiming it was affiliated to a recognized medical institute in Russia.

He said that President Maithripala Sirisena, when he was the Health Minister in the former Government, had submitted a report on SAITM which gives in detail some of the discrepancies at SAITM.

The JVP leader called for the report by Sirisena on SAITM to be tabled in Parliament. He also questioned if the Health Ministry had received a report by the SLMC on SAITM.

Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne confirmed that the report had been received and that the recommendations in the report will be implemented.?(Colombo Gazette)