Govt says KDU Medical Faculty entry ban for locals is temporary

June 3, 20251 Mins read68

The restriction on admitting local civilian students to the medical faculty of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) is only a temporary measure, Deputy Minister of Education Madhura Seneviratne told Parliament today (03).

Responding to a question raised by MP Ravi Karunanayake, the Deputy Minister clarified that the halt in local admissions is in place only until the government completes a review of the country’s future requirements for medical professionals.

“This is not a permanent ban,” Seneviratne emphasized. “The government is assessing the national demand for doctors, and admissions will be reconsidered once the review is concluded.”

MP Karunanayake, raising the issue during today’s parliamentary session, noted that a group of students has filed a case in the Supreme Court against the restriction, arguing it unfairly denies them access to medical education.

He questioned why students were being deprived of an opportunity to pursue their studies, especially when KDU remains operational. In response, Seneviratne confirmed that there are no plans to shut down the university or its medical faculty.

Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa also weighed in on the issue, stating that the growing number of medical graduates from state universities is creating challenges in providing adequate residential clinical training. He added that the government is actively discussing potential solutions to address the situation.

The review process, according to the ministers, aims to ensure a balance between the country’s healthcare needs and the capacity of medical training institutions.