Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has urged the government to reverse its decision to halt the medical degree programme at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), calling the move a grave mistake that deprives both local and foreign students of educational opportunities.

In a statement, Premadasa noted that the KDU medical programme, recognised by the Sri Lanka Medical Council, had offered annual admission for 150 students — including 100 local and 50 international cadets — and contributed to generating foreign revenue. He warned that shutting it down would result in significant losses, both in foreign exchange and opportunities for Sri Lankan students, especially those from remote areas who had opted for KDU due to distance constraints.

He further stressed that the programme provided important relief to other state universities and facilitated access to modern medical education. Premadasa emphasized that at a time when Sri Lanka faces a shortage of around 15,000 doctors, the country should be expanding medical education, not restricting it.

Calling the decision outdated and counterproductive, Premadasa vowed that the Opposition would work to reinstate the programme and modernize free education to suit present-day needs. (Newswire)