The establishment of the Medical Faculty of the University of Moratuwa has run into snags due to the delays caused by the interministerial committee appointed for the purpose of recommending the modus operandi.
The committee is yet to complete the paperwork related to the SAITM institute and the Neville Fernando Hospital that would be acquired to set up the new medical faculty.
On February 1, 2023, the Minister of Higher Education submitted a Memorandum to the Cabinet to provide Neville Fernando Hospital and Saitam University to this Faculty of Medicine, and subsequently, during the Cabinet meeting held on February 13, it was decided that the resources of these two institutions should be shared and that a committee should be appointed to decide on the most suitable method for handing over the infrastructure to the University of Moratuwa.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Education, the Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Prisons, and Constitutional Reforms, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa, a representative on behalf of the property owners of Neville Fernando Hospital, and the SAITM Institute have been appointed to this committee, and a representative appointed by the Secretary of the Ministry of Education has been assigned to act as the convener of the committee.
Thus, the Cabinet has ordered that the Secretary of the Ministry of Education inquire about the relevant process and submit recommendations to the Cabinet within three weeks.
But it is reported that this committee has met only twice so far. These sources, who said that the relevant report has not been completed, further stated that due to this situation, the work of the Moratuwa Faculty of Medicine is currently facing administrative issues.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Education, the Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Prisons, and Constitutional Reforms, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa, a representative on behalf of the property owners of Neville Fernando Hospital, and the SAITM Institute have been appointed to this committee, and a representative appointed by the Secretary of the Ministry of Education has been assigned to act as the convener of the committee.
Thus, the Cabinet has ordered that the Secretary of the Ministry of Education inquire about the relevant process and submit recommendations to the Cabinet within three weeks.
But it is reported that this committee has met only twice so far. These sources, who said that the relevant report has not been completed, further stated that due to this situation, the work of the Moratuwa Faculty of Medicine is currently facing administrative issues.
Ministry Secretary M.N. Ranasinghe said that the discussions related to the takeover process are still going on. Mr. Ranasinghe further said that there is a need for wider discussions regarding the existing assets and liabilities, so work is currently being done on it, and after the completion of the work, the report will be forwarded to the Cabinet of Minister
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