President Maithripala Sirisena has instructed to send the current students of the SAITM medical faculty to the Kothelawala Defence University, the President's Media Division said.

The decision had been made this evening, following a discussion with stakeholders of the issue, the PMD also added.

This comes in the wake of a protest held in Colombo, by state university students unions and their parents. 

The President's Directive is on contrast to the recommendations made by a committee headed by Deputy Minister Harsha de Silva. 

It recommended the current students of SAITM should be absorbed into a 'Sunset' organisation that will adhere to minimum standards of medical education.