As an undergraduate of MBBS degree, there are many events happenening around us these days. Yesterday was an important day as for the first time a court case was filed requesting SLMC recognition to a degree the SLMC has denied recognition over the last 7 years. I simply did not understand the logic how someone can be a doctor throught the law, when the governing body of the profession denies it's recognition. But i am also aware that my knowledge on law was so poor, and the law can make murderes innocent and the innocent murderers, as the history says. With all these events happening, yesterday night was a TV debate between two Trade Union leaders and the President and Secretary of SAITM parents' association; both were lawyers. It was a pretty interesting debate. I was anyway biased as I am opposing SAITM, but this blog is titled My Opinion, so it would not affect anyway I guess.
The whole argument the two parents had throughout the debate was the Gazzate issued by Minister S.B. Dissanayake in 2011 which the entire doctor community, university students community, the university teachers community said to be off the procedure. But, they were lawyers, so were talking on that word by word as any lawyer would do. Infact I remebered an incident in 2015, at the Law Med, the Law College students virtually won a tennis match with Colombo Medical faculty by WORDS; when they purposefully hid one of their players and later claimed he was unavailable and requested victory based on the unfinished matches. That story is long, (infact it can be a seperate blog itself);which however ended with a fair solution from the party of Law College, but it was the day I realized , how a lawyer will be able to convince that the obvious fraud is correct, just by the words he/she may utter. But, that is their profession, and I still do respect it.
The two parents were also of the same profession. When the host asked the parent 1(President), why he chose SAITM for his child when the SLMC was against it, He answered , " I studied the Gazzate very well. If UGC has approved, who else should I worry etc etc". In the latter part of the discussion he said, "My child is passed out, fully qualified", which reminded me that to pass out, the child must have been of the 1st batch(as only a single batch has passed out), which was recruited in 2009; by the time the so called Gazzate(which is the only thing SAITM claims they got recognition) was not there. Then I realized, "Oh yes, he must be a lawyer". And this father also overwhelmingly challenged the Gvt. Medical students for an open competition with SAITM students. This same comment came off a Past president of the Parents's association, Mr. Gamunu Wijerathne( popular as Bus Gamunu). These parents have forgotten the fact that, the whole issue why their kids are in this difficulty is because unfortunately they were able to perform enough at the so called competitive exam A/Ls. A/L is a tricky exam. But as to the law the lawyers are protecting, we will have to settle with it. If A/L is wrong, we need to change A/Ls, but not develop fraud shops of SAITM nature.That argument Coming from Mr. Gamunu was obvious considering how he commented to media over the years, but from a lawyer was never expected. But realized he was also a father representing the Parents' association.
And then was the other lawyer, who claimed of Students at SAITM has "Just missed A/Ls". In argument, the opposit party stated names of two students who failed A/L Biology and had just 2 S passes who are registered at SAITM. While agreeing that both of them were registered, he so proudly claimed ,ONE has already left. I was puzzeled. If someone build an institute to those who just missed A/Ls, why would someone recruit at least one student who failed A/Ls? Leave aside Physics and Chemistry, if they failed Biology- the Most important subject of A/L subjects for a Doctor? And as he said, if ONE has left the course, does he admit that One is still studying?? Probably passed out as well?; from this marvelous place SAITM? And the parent said his son got 4As in London A/Ls and he admitted his child in 2013 after the Gazzate(sigh). Wait, London A/Ls? So he was anyway not expecting to enter a Gvt. Uni by A/Ls in first place as he chose London A/Ls. And anyone who did A/L would know, provided if your English is average, London A/L is way too easy than Lankan A/L and not competitive too. So, I was wondering how can someone who chose London A/L fall under the category of "just missed A/L students in Sri Lanka" which SAITM claims they cater to? The president and the secretary of the parents association proved that reality of SAITM is not what they represent at all.
A word must also be placed about this tricky parents association. When the SAITM administration tried to get their needs by disgracing people etc( as of Mr. S.B. Dissanayake era), the President was Mr. Gamunu Wijerathne. Once they need to get sympathy of doctors, the president was a famous surgeon. And when the court case is filed, the President and Secretary both are Lawyers. The parents of this association are genius that to cater the needs of it's administration, they choose the president; but not to cater to the needs of the students.But I am yet to see a Farmer, Fisherman coming as the president of parents' association, as SAITM advertises in news papers throughout the week saying SAITM is for the children of Farmers, Fishermen who JUST MISSED A/L.
During the discussion, the two doctors pointed facts that SAITM is farud since it's inception , and the response of two parents was that " If you need to ask about it's inception, ask from the administration. We are talkng from 2011 onwards". I was perplexed. Now they came to defend an institute, and they say to ask the administration. Why did the so called learned members failed to do so for over 7 years where there kids learn? And if the start is wrong, how can it be right from the mid way? I simply did not understand the logic, but they were lawyers.
After all, due to the involvement of so many lawyers during recent times, I called one of my friends who graduated from Law Faculty, and asked "how can one be a lawyer in SL?" He said, If you enter a Gvt. Uni and get LLB, you need to sit for final year exam in Sri Lanka Law College to be a lawyer.Anywhere else you learn LLB, you need to complete all 3 years exams in Sri Lanka Law College to be a practicing Lawyer. If you are not going for a degree, you can sit for the Entrance exam in Sri Lanka Law College and then be an Attorney and practice law, but can't do posgraduate then. And when I asked who regulates he said, "Council on Sri Lanka Law education " or something similar. Well I said Thanks. It appears complicated, but for a prestigeous profession like a Lawyer, a proper regulation and standard pathway must be there. But the two lawyers who must have followed the same procedure, now blames the Process of Being A Doctor in this country in Dictatorship. Whose dictatorship? If all lawyers need Sri Lanka Law College recognition to practice and what is wrong when Sri Lanka Medical Council recognition needed for all doctors. And , if the exams are regulated by A Council, what is wrong when SLMC regulated medical training? It's important to realize, A Lawyer must be well trained and regulated and so should a doctor. If two children of doctors who failed Law Entrance exam or so claims they want to be Lawyers and to award them the Sri Lanka Law College recognition, will those two parents agree to it? And similarly how professional it is for the two lawyers to disgrace another profession which is equally/even more regulated like their own profession?
While formulating all arguments in my mind of the discussion held recently, I remembered some incidents happened in the recent Wassana Diyawara ( An annual project done by Medical Faculty Buddhist Association to help a rural village). I was able to chat with a few students studying in Garde 8 of that school. One said, he wants to be a doctor? So i asked if they got A/L science in their school ? They said no. All the childrens' parents were chena cultivators. They had no lab facilities. But, there were few great kids to chat and were enthusiastic as to what Medical faculty looks like, what do we do in there , whether i got a stethescope etc.. As it always does, Wassana Diyawara is an event I personally like a lot as it helps me reflect on life. Personnaly, me too started from Aralaganvila in Polonnaruwa , from Grade 5 scholarship came to Kandy, and from A/L, was able to come to Colombo Faculty. I had a process for me to believe and I was certain that if I succeed the exams, I can get to Med school. And the system helped me as well. In a country where resources are so poorly distributed as it was evident in Wassana Diyawara project, the Minister of Higher Education is more worried of leagalizing institues which produce doctors(for the sake of few children of the powerful people) while the entire medical profession rejects them as it challenges the already existing proper system of medical training which is available for every citizen if they excell in studies.
And in response to the SAITM issue, current minister says, " It was done by previous government". If I am not mistaken, this goverment requested the people's vote saying they'll change the system , corruption, punish ministers who made mistakes etc.., Mr. S.B. Dissanayake was well punished by people for mistakes he did by not re electing him, but the current administration re chose him. As shouted, it's high time the current minister Mr. Lakshman Kiriella to change the mitakes done by previous regime as they say it. If the solution for fraud is punishment, it's time to, ABOLISH SAITM and PUNISH the relevant authorities. And as said by Dr. Neville himself, the "SAITM thawalama( cart)", has already gone too long than what the bulls can tolerate.
