The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the use of the Kalutara Teaching Hospital and the Children’s Hospital in Mount Lavinia for clinical training as part of the University of Moratuwa’s Faculty of Medicine. This decision was made on Monday, and the first cohort of medical students, who enrolled in 2019 based on their G.C.E. (Advanced Level) results, is set to begin hospital-based clinical training in July 2025.
This expansion aims to provide medical students with a well-rounded and diverse hospital-based training experience. Initially, the establishment of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Moratuwa was approved to use the facilities of the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) and the Dr. Neville Fernando Hospital. However, challenges such as limited patient numbers, insufficient disease diversity, and a lack of specialist staff led to the need for an updated approach.
In addition to the clinical training arrangements, the proposal also includes allocating two plots of land in Nagoda West Grama Niladhari Division, Kalutara, owned by the Sri Lanka Transport Board and the Road Development Authority, to facilitate the development of the Faculty of Medicine at the university.
The joint proposal, presented by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who also serves as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, along with Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake, was approved by the Cabinet.
You can find the relevant Cabinet decision below.
