March 01, Colombo (LNW): Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya has announced plans to establish a special committee tasked with drawing up a comprehensive national policy on medical education, following appeals from student representatives who have long called for clearer direction and reform in the sector.
The proposal emerged during a meeting held on February 27 at Temple Trees with members of the Medical Faculty Students’ Action Committee. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the discussion centred on long-standing concerns within state universities, including internship placements, accommodation shortages and transport challenges faced by medical undergraduates and recent graduates.
Dr Amarasuriya invited student unions and other stakeholders to submit written proposals and recommendations, assuring them that the policy would be shaped through consultation rather than imposed unilaterally.
She stressed that safeguarding academic freedom and students’ right to express their views would remain a priority, adding that further dialogue would be held with university Vice-Chancellors in the coming weeks.
Representatives from the Ministry of Health acknowledged that delays in assigning internship training posts have largely stemmed from accommodation constraints at teaching hospitals.
They indicated that approval has been sought to designate five additional hospitals for internship training, a move expected to ease bottlenecks and expand opportunities for newly qualified doctors.
Meanwhile, officials from the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education confirmed that funding has already been earmarked for new hostel facilities at several universities, including Wayamba, Sabaragamuwa and Moratuwa. Construction is expected to commence once land allocation formalities are finalised.
Transport difficulties affecting trainees attached to the Kurunegala and Kuliyapitiya faculties were also raised. Authorities said discussions would be initiated with the Sri Lanka Transport Board to explore dedicated services or revised schedules to support medical trainees.
Officials further clarified that no decision has been taken to halt post-intern appointments and that efforts are under way to upgrade infrastructure within medical faculties islandwide.
The meeting was attended by senior government officials, university administrators and representatives of the students’ committee, marking what participants described as a constructive step towards long-term reform in Sri Lanka’s medical education system.