Sri Lanka Medical Council delists three Russian Universities including Patrice Lumumba University from the list of foreign universities recognized by Sri Lanka

Colombo (News 1st): The Sri Lanka Medical Council has delisted three Russian Universities including world-renowned Patrice Lumumba University from the list of foreign universities recognized by Sri Lanka. The SLMC says the decision was made following a thorough review. A decision was made at the annual general meeting of the Sri Lanka Medical Council on the 26th of June 2020, to delist the People's Friendship University of Russia, formally known as Patrice Lumumba University, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University and Tver State Medical University that award full scholarships to Sri Lankan students. The Association of Sri Lankan Graduates from Socialist Countries states every year the Russian Government awards Sri Lankan students with over 40 scholarships, including 5 scholarships for Medicine, to state universities in Russia. The Association added that the SLMC has removed 3 of the approved universities after the students had applied and obtained confirmations on their scholarships from Russia. When News 1st made inquiries, Registrar of the Sri Lanka Medical Council Dr Ananda Hapugoda said that a group of expert panel conduct a five-year follow-up on approved foreign universities and make a decision following a thorough review. He added that based on the criteria including quality of education and relevance of the curriculum to the Sri Lankan healthcare system, a decision will be made whether to remove or retain the recognized foreign universities. The Registrar further said that the students who have completed the scholarship or are already receiving education in these universities before the decision was made, will be able to register with the Medical Council and to face the Examination for Registration to Practise Medicine or the Act 16 Examination in Sri Lanka. However, students who had applied and obtained confirmations on their scholarships this year, will not be able to sit for the Act 16 examination, upon completion of the scholarship.