President Maithripala Sirisena today appointed a nine-member committee headed by Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva to handle issues relating to the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM).

These include implementing the proposals previously put forth on SAITM as well as meeting any other new issues that may crop up in the implementation of the proposals.

On October 30, the government announced the contentious SAITM medical faculty – that is, the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital would be abolished and a not-for-profit entity would be established in it’s place.

While the announcement was welcomed – with reservations – by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), local university students have today embarked on a ‘fast unto death’ demanding the closure of SAITM.

The nine-member committee appointed by the President consists of: 

Deputy Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs Dr. Harsha de Silva (Chairman)

Secretary of the Health, Nutrition & Indigenous Medicine Ministry, Janaka Sugathadasa

Secretary of the Higher Education and Highways Ministry, D.C. Dissanayake

Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Prof. Mohan de Silva

Chairman of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) Prof. Colvin Gunaratne

Vice Chancellor of the Colombo University Prof. Lakshman Dissanayake

Vice Chancellor of the Sri Jayawardenapura University Prof. Sampath Amaratunga

Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Prof. Jennifer Perera

Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Prof. Nilanthi de Silva

Three observers from the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA), the Medicine Teachers Association and a representative from the parents/students unions will also be included.