President Maithripala Sirisena said today, a decision relating to the issue on the status of the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) and private medical colleges would be made in the interest of country.

The President was speaking to a group of parents of students attached to the SAITM campus in Malabe, who had met with the President to voice their grievances.

President Sirisena assured the parents that the views of all those involved would be taken into consideration, and had added – “I will pay special attention to the ideas of Sri Lankan student community.”

“I have already discussed this matter with the Government Medical Officers’ Association and the Government Dental Surgeons’ Association. I also will discuss with the University Grant Commission and the Medical Council”, the President said.

Private medical campus SAITM has come under attack from local university students who feel the free education they are beneficiaries of is under threat when the Sri Lanka Medical Council accredits degree holders from SAITM and other private medical faculties.