University of Moratuwa to benefit from medical faculty next year
View(s):70 students to be admitted to the medical faculty early next year; Faculty buildings to be constructed in Nagoda and Katubedda
The current Government has decided to establish a medical faculty for the University of Moratuwa next year, as part of its plans for the expansion of the country’s university education system.
Early next year, around 70 students will be admitted to the newly established medical faculty, Education Ministry Secretary Kapila Perera said.
The Vice Chancellors of the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) and Ruhuna University had agreed to provide academic assistance.
Initially, the Kalutara Nagoda Teaching Hospital would accommodate the students for clinical training, Prof. Perera said. The Panadura and Horana base hospitals too would be used for training, he added.
Prof. Perera said negotiations were taking place to purchase one 15 acres land in Nagoda and another 15 acre land in Katubedda to construct buildings for the medical faculty.
“The land owners in Nagoda and Katubedda agreed to donate two acres each from their respective land.
This means we only have to pay for 13 acres in each area,” he said.
Prof. Perera also said discussions were being held to decide if the funding for the project should be obtained through a loan provided by the State of Kuwait or by financial arrangements made with local banks.
According to him, the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) had expressed their pleasure over the Government’s decision to increase state medical faculty intakes.