Today (15th) morning, the official commencement of clinical training for final-year medical students of the University of Moratuwa’s Faculty of Medicine took place at the Nagoda Teaching Hospital in Kalutara, presided over by Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.
Acting on a decision made by the Ministry of Health and Mass Media under the instructions of Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, who sought to establish professorial units at the Kalutara Nagoda Teaching Hospital in November 2024, steps have been taken to establish professorial units in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, General Medicine, and General Surgery.
All five professorial units required for the clinical training of medical students have now been established within the Kalutara Teaching Hospital premises, and the necessary human and physical resources have also been provided to the hospital. Twenty-two doctors and health staff, including nurses, have been assigned to these professorial units.
The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Moratuwa was established in 2020, and currently, 500 medical students across five batches are engaged in their studies. The professorial training for one hundred final-year medical students began today.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, stated that in 2017, when he was an opposition MP, he presented a private member’s motion to Parliament to establish new medical faculties at the University of Moratuwa and Uva Wellassa University. After these proposals were approved, he presented another motion to designate the Kalutara Nagoda District General Hospital as the teaching hospital for the University of Moratuwa’s Faculty of Medicine.
“Clinical training for final year students of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Moratuwa”
The Minister added that it was not easy to bring these proposals to fruition, and a key reason for the delay was the regionalist mindset of those in power at the time. He emphasized that even though the Nagoda Teaching Hospital was the most suitable location for the medical faculty, some MPs in the then-ruling party tried to move it to their electorates, which was completely against the national interest of medical education in the country.
The Minister also stated that construction of the University of Moratuwa’s Faculty of Medicine should begin promptly, and the necessary land has already been allocated. He added that discussions are underway with the Kuwait Fund, and a combination of funds from the Fund and a certain amount of government funds will be utilized for the project.
The Minister pointed out that although the Galassa Children’s and Maternity Hospital was opened in August 2023, its services could not be fully operationalized due to staffing issues. However, services have now been systematically launched, and he hopes to construct another building on the same premises.
He emphasized that funds have been allocated to complete the construction of the medical ward complex and the nursing school building at the Kalutara Nagoda Teaching Hospital, which had been halted midway, before December 31, 2027. He added that they are working to expedite the construction of 17 such projects and complete them within the next two years.
He mentioned that an additional 45 billion rupees has been allocated from the Treasury for this purpose, and if the 17 projects had been completed on schedule, it would have cost only 29 billion rupees.
The Minister stated that as a result of the delay in completing these projects on time, billions of rupees have to be allocated additionally. He further said that the ultimate goal of all these development activities is to provide quality and efficient medical services to the people of Kalutara and surrounding areas through the Nagoda Teaching Hospital.
All these health development projects are being implemented based on a decision by the Ministry of Health and Mass Media under the instructions of Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa to improve the quality of education and clinical training for University of Moratuwa medical students, provide higher education and training to future doctors and health professionals, and make the Kalutara area a hub for health education.
During the event, healthcare professionals from all disciplines were recognized and awarded for their contributions to establishing the professorial units at the Kalutara Nagoda Teaching Hospital.
Following the official ceremony, the Minister also conducted a special inspection of the newly established professorial units for Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, General Medicine, and General Surgery at the Kalutara Nagoda Teaching Hospital.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Madura Seneviratne, Kalutara District MP Nandana Padmakumara, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa Prof. N. D. Gunawardena, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa Prof. D. P. Chandrasekara, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Moratuwa Prof. Senaka Pilapitiya, Director of the Kalutara Nagoda Teaching Hospital Dr. Madhubashini Karunaratne, Deputy Director Dr. Nayanajith Komosaru, Kalutara District Director of Health Services Dr. Naveen de Zoysa, specialist doctors, doctors, nurses, and a large gathering of health professionals and medical students.
