The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA), in a statement released yesterday, made several key demands that it deemed necessary to maintain the ‘higher standards of medical education.’

In light of the government’s decision on establishing a non-for- profit organization instead of SAITM, the SLMA requested that;

1. Medical students of all state medical facilities to immediately return to their respective academic activities, without any further delay.

2. The parents of medical students of all state medical faculties to encourage and ensure that their children return to their academic activities without any further delay.

3. The academic staff of all state medical faculties and their respective medical teachers’ trade unions to create, ensure and sustain an environment in which students can commence and continue with their interrupted academic activities without any further delay.

4. The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Sri Lanka to ensure that all categories of staff attached to all medical faculties perform their duties as per UGC and other relevant government rules, regulations and circulars without any further delay.

5. All medical doctors in Sri Lanka to adhere to and maintain the highest standards of professionalism in providing healthcare services to the citizens of Sri Lanka without interruption.

6. The Government of Sri Lanka to ensure that all agreement it reaches with all relevant stake holders to be carried out without any compromise.