No reason to be surprised by SAITM verdict - Bimal

JVP Parliamentarian Bimal Rathnayake says that there is no reason to be surprised by the verdict delivered by court regarding the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) and that both the plaintiff and respondents in the case accept the private medical college in Malabe. 

He charged the complaint was against the Health Minister, who had publicly informed the court through the parliament regarding the Health Ministry’s decision to continue backing the legalizing of SAITM.

“Therefore this is not something that was debated,” he told reporters in Colombo today (01). 

The Colombo District MP said that facts from both sides were not presented to the court as the requests made by 13 organisations including the GMOA and Dental Association to be part of the case were turned down.

He claimed that the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) had to act as the party presenting facts on behalf of the health minister.

“We see this as a case filed jointly by the Health Minister and SAITM,” he said, adding that this is the verdict expect by a majority of the people. 

He said that while the JVP accepts the right for courts to deliver such verdicts, they are against the core of the decision.