The issue regarding SAITM medical college is not political but legal, said JVP Parliamentarian Bimal Rathnayake.

Speaking at a press conference today, he said that Minister S.B. Dissanayake, who was the former Minister of Higher Education, has broken the laws he made himself.

Rathnayake pointed out that the Universities Act of 1978 has provided for the legal basis of private degree awarding institutions. The UGC has clearly stated the guidelines for such institutions and in August 2013, the then Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake issued a Gazette Notification on guidelines for degree awarding institutions.

However, SAITM has failed to obtain the recommendation of the Sri Lanka Medical Council repeatedly. Irrespective of this, Dissanayake, during the past government's era, had a Gazette Notification issued giving SAITM the opportunity to award degrees, Rathnayake said. The present government is also supportive of the SAITM, he added.

Rathnayake insisted that by giving SAITM the opportunity to award degrees without considering the law and the standards, the government is encouraging the establishment of other below - par degree awarding institution.