The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Minister, this is my second supplementary question. The Prime Minister and the Minister of Health are present in the Chamber today.

¶ 02 There is a news item saying: “A group of students to the Supreme Court against closing the Kotelawala Medical Faculty to local students.”

¶ 03 I am informed that the Vice Chancellors of the universities are meeting the President at 10.30 a.m. today to discuss this matter. At the same time, the Minister of Health, Nalinda Jayatissa, has said the “Government is planning to create doctors for overseas as medical professionals.” Further, the KDU has taken in two batches through the Z-score, and now the third intake has been stopped. Therefore, a problem has arisen within the Medical Faculty of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. Since earlier some students did not get this opportunity, and now this faculty should not be closed to other children, why cannot the Government intervene and reopen it to the rest? You remember there was an issue with NCMC. Why cannot we resolve this problem now?

¶ 04 Moreover, although our cadre [of doctors] should be 7,500, it has reduced to 6,100. They are leaving for countries where they can earn more. Why are we limiting intakes when universities are being constrained? Mr. Speaker, when there is capacity for about 120,000, why cannot we open universities and give opportunities to our students in Sri Lanka? You too are Members of Parliament, and your children have entered these universities and earned distinction. Why cannot we create that opportunity for others as well? I ask you this earnestly.

¶ 05 There is also a deficiency, and beyond that we could create opportunities to bring in students from abroad as well. This is a way to earn foreign exchange within the country for the Government and the nation. That is why I am raising this matter.