Sri Lanka Medical Council at risk of contempt of court

COLOMBO (News 1st) - A student of SAITM has initiated legal action after the Sri Lanka Medical Council failed to carry out an order handed down by the supreme court regarding SAITM. Thereby, a notice was issued today, to the Sri Lanka medical council, to appear before court on the 16th of November this year, for an inquiry into contempt of court. Dilma Kasundara Suriyarachchi had filed a petition after she was not registered at the SLMC after the court of appeal handed down a verdict on the 31st of January 2016 and it was reaffirmed at the Supreme Court. The matter was also raised in Parliament today and during the session Minister of Higher Education & Cultural Affairs, Dr.Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe stated that applications of 874-degree holders of SAITM have been presented to the Kotelawala Defense University, along with their certificates of minimum qualification. The Minister continued to say that 514 applicants have already been assessed and registered in the proper manner and that another 360 applications are currently under assessment. "This group of 81 has the complete rights, to qualify as doctors subject to approval from the medical council and within the laws outlines by courts" added Minister Rajapakse. Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa added that the students have access to a second option where they can join the KDU and qualify as doctors under accepted standards. Applications are open until the 30th of this month. The Minister further assured, that there has not been any violation of the law and that all that happened was that the degree certificates were issued prior to the court order and act of Parliament.