The Supreme Court has fixed September 11 to confirm facts in a fundamental rights petition filed by the father of a student who died in a bus accident involving Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) students in Badulla in 2024.

It is reported that the petition seeks compensation, alleging that the accident violated the fundamental rights of his son and two other students who lost their lives. 

The case was taken up before a three‑judge bench comprising Arjuna Obeyesekere, Dr. Sobitha Rajakaruna, and Menaka Wijesundara.

The respondents named include the Vice Chancellor of KDU, members of the Senate, and the driver of the bus, who has been directed to file objections if any.

According to the petitioner, his son was pursuing a Quantity Surveying degree and had joined a field trip to Badulla in November 2024. At Ambagaha Junction, the bus met with a fatal accident, killing three students and injuring several others.

Investigations revealed that the bus, manufactured in 1992 and registered in Sri Lanka in 2020, had a poorly maintained braking system. Technical defects prevented the driver from controlling the vehicle, leading to the tragedy. At the time, 41 passengers, including KDU students, were on board.

The petitioner argues that the accident was caused by the negligence of the respondents and requests the Court to declare a violation of fundamental rights and order suitable compensation. (Newswire)

The post Supreme Court to hear petition on 2024 fatal KDU bus accident appeared first on Newswire.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has accused the Government of playing with the futures of young students, following its sudden reversal on the KDU MBBS admissions policy.

“They played games with the future of children and only backtracked under legal and public pressure,” Premadasa said, reacting to the Government’s decision to reopen applications for local fee-paying students at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University.

He said hundreds of qualified students were left in limbo by the earlier policy change, scrambling for foreign placements, filing fundamental rights petitions, and spending money their families could barely spare. “Parents spent weeks in anxiety, not knowing whether to pay overseas deposits or wait for a government that kept shifting the goalposts,” he added.

Premadasa also criticised the Government for wasting parliamentary time defending a policy that was ultimately abandoned. “Ministers spent hours defending the indefensible, only to reverse it weeks later.”

He warned that such ad hoc policymaking erodes public trust. “Education policy isn’t something to write on the back of an envelope and discard the next day. These decisions shape lives and careers. If the Government doesn’t know what it’s doing, at least don’t export that chaos to the people.” (Newswire)

The post “Only public pressure forced the U-turn” – Sajith on KDU MBBS Saga appeared first on Newswire.

The restriction on admitting local civil students to the medical faculty of the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) will remain in place until the government completes a review of the country’s medical workforce needs, Deputy Education Minister Madhura Seneviratne told Parliament.

Responding to a question from MP Ravi Karunanayake, the Minister clarified that the measure is not permanent and is part of an ongoing assessment.

The government has faced severe criticism over the decision to restrict admissions to the KDU medical degree programme.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya opposition MPs, led by the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa urged the government to reverse its decision, calling the move a grave mistake that deprives both local and foreign students of educational opportunities. (Newswire)

The post KDU medical faculty restriction to remain until review : Deputy Minister appeared first on Newswire.

General Secretary of the United National Party Young Professionals Organisation (Colombo Chapter), Attorney Delan De Silva, has publicly condemned the recent government decision to bar civilian students from entering the Medical Faculty of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU).

In a statement shared on ‘X’, De Silva called the move “a betrayal of our youth” and “a death blow to free education”, adding that it was not a policy, but sabotage. 

“Sri Lanka is short by over 15,000 doctors. Each year, nearly 800 students leave to study medicine abroad, draining $700–800 million in foreign exchange. Meanwhile, the Rs. 35 billion teaching hospital at KDU—built with taxpayer funds—is now off-limits to Sri Lankan civilians?” he questioned.

De Silva emphasised that the move deepens the country’s healthcare crisis and erodes public access to state-funded education.

“A university funded by the public cannot become a gated institution for the privileged few. If we are serious about healthcare and equity, this decision must be reversed immediately,” he further urged. 

News reports on the government’s decision, which have begun gaining traction online, are being widely shared by legal professionals, educators, and youth activists concerned about the militarisation of education and its implications for public policy. (Newswire)

The post “KDU decision a death blow to free education” – UNPYPO Gen Sec appeared first on Newswire.

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)

The post Opposition Leader calls for reopening of Kotelawala Medical Faculty appeared first on Newswire.

Two female students were reported dead following an accident involving a bus transporting students of the Southern Campus of the General Sir John Kotalawala Defence University.

According to reports, the bus is said to have fallen into a precipice in the Dunhinda area in Badulla this morning.

The Deputy Director of the Badulla Hospital said 41 persons were brought to the hospital for treatment, among which two female students had succumbed to injuries. 

Speaking to the media, he further said that some of the injured are in critical condition and are undergoing treatment. (Newswire/ Image- Accident1st)

The post University bus topples in Badulla : Two deaths reported appeared first on Newswire.

Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) has urged newly graduating students of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) to never forget the value of peace, stability and cooperation.

“We have seen the impact of conflict and have also experienced the healing power of peace. As you step into the next phase of your journey, I urge you to take with you the lessons of our nation’s past. Let us never forget the value of peace, stability and cooperation”, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha said.

According to the Defence Ministry, he made the statement while addressing the Convocation of the KDU held at the BMICH in Colombo on 15 October.

Defence Secretary AVM Thuyacontha (Retd) graced the final session of the General Convocation as the Chief Guest. A total of 1,728 undergrads are graduating from Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programmes of KDU, including both internal students and student officers from the National Defence College, Defence Services Command and Staff College, Sri Lanka Military Academy, Army School of Logistics, Naval and Maritime Academy and the Sri Lanka Air Force Academy.

The Defence Secretary who is also the Chairman of the KDU Board of Management was warmly received by the Chancellor of KDU, General Shantha Kottegoda (Retd) and Vice-Chancellor (VC), Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara upon his arrival at the BMICH.

The KDU was initially established to meet the educational needs of the Tri–Forces officers in 1981.  Later it was elevated to a fully-fledged University and civilian students were also granted the opportunity to study here in 2009. Presently, international students also pursue doctoral, postgraduate and postgraduate diploma courses at the KDU which is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the International Association of Universities.  

Chief of Defence Staff, Tri-Service Commanders, Inspector General of Police, Vice Chancellors of other distinguished universities, members of the diplomatic corps, members of the KDU Board of Management, senior armed forces and police officers, academic, military and administrative staff of the KDU, family members of the undergrads were also present at the occasion. (Newswire)

The post Defence Secretary highlights national security in message to graduating KDU students appeared first on Newswire.

Following charges of irregularities in its admission procedure, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) has issued a clarification regarding the recruitment of civilian students to the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) Degree programme. 

The KDU administration assured candidates, their parents, medical professionals, the university community, and the general public that the civilian admission process is secure and transparent.

Full statement: 

General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) which is functioning under the purview of the Ministry of Defence clarifies regarding the admission of civilian students to the MBBS Degree Programme of KDU.

MBBS Degree Programme conducted by the Faculty of Medicine of KDU was commenced in the year 2009 mainly to cater to the need of lack of Medical Doctors in the Armed Forces of Sri Lanka. However, with the gradual fulfillment of the requirements of the Armed Forces, KDU started admitting civilian students to the MBBS Degree Programme who are children of expatriates of Sri Lanka bringing much needed foreign exchange to the country, from the year 2013.

Further, in 2017 a total of 864 civilian students registered for the MBBS Degree Programme at the South Asia Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) were absorbed into the KDU.

Further, in 2022, 87 civilian students were sent from the University Grants Commission for the MBBS Degree Programme to resolve an issue that arose as a result of change in admission criteria/ policy of the National Universities.

Accordingly, a total of 1337 civilian students had been admitted to the MBBS Degree Programme of KDU and of them 828 students have graduated since 2018 up to 2023.

If the opportunities available at the Faculty of Medicine of KDU, after enlisting the required number of Medical Officer Cadets of the Armed Forces, are not utilized effectively, the financial investments, infrastructure facilities and human resources of the Faculty of Medicine and the University Hospital (UHKDU) will be in vain, while the country is facing severe shortage of medical professionals.

The Cabinet of Ministers made a Policy Decision on 08th April 2024 to grant approval to admit domestic civilian students for the MBBS Degree Programme on fee levying basis from the year 2024.

Accordingly, an advertisement calling for applications from potential candidates with local G.C.E (Advanced Level) qualifications or equivalent foreign examination qualifications such as Cambridge, Edexcel and such other examinations was published on the University website on 19th April 2024 and in National Newspapers in Sinhala, Tamil and English Languages on 21st April 2024.

The above advertisement indicated inter alia the eligibility criteria and the closing date of application. Consequently, a total of 956 applications were received by the closing date and the List of such Applicants was published on the University website with their Z- scores or results of foreign examinations.

After screening the said applications, out of 868 eligible candidates, a total of 242 were shortlisted by the ‘Admissions Committee’ to attend the Aptitude Test. Candidates with local G.C.E. (A/L) results were shortlisted using the minimum Z- score published by the UGC for entry to MBBS Degree Programme in other State Universities in the year 2021, which is 1.4059.

Candidates with foreign examination qualifications were shortlisted using the minimum grades obtained as A, A and B. Number allocated for each category was determined based on the proportion of applications received. Accordingly, 216 and 26 candidates became eligible from the two categories respectively.

The Aptitude Test comprising three (03) components i.e. Paper 1 comprising Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) on Subject Knowledge, Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and General Knowledge, Paper 2 on English Language and Paper 3 on Psychometric Assessment, were conducted on 14th May 2024 at the University premises, and a total of 203 candidates (183 from local G.C.E A/L and 20 from foreign qualifying examinations) appeared for the Aptitude Test.

Those candidates were called for the Structured Interview which was held on 20th, 21st and 22nd May 2024. Accordingly, 158 with local G.C.E A/L qualifications and 20 with foreign examination qualifications appeared for the Structured Interview.

The Interview Panel, approved by the Board of Management of KDU, comprised representatives from the University Grants Commission and Sri Lanka Medical Council, as observers, in addition to the internal staff members of KDU.

At the Structured Interview, marks were allocated as 90% to G.C.E A/L or Foreign Qualifying Examination results and 10% to other achievements such as nationally recognized sports activities and proven leadership qualities and abilities.

The details of Eligibility Criteria for applying to the MBBS Degree Programme at KDU, composition of the Admissions Committee, Structure of the Aptitude Test, Composition of the Interview Panel and Allocation of Marks for Final Selection are published on the University website.

The details of candidates selected to follow the MBBS Degree Programme at KDU and the Agreement containing the conditions which the selected candidates are required to enter with the University at the time of registration have also been published on the University website.

In the light of the above stated clarification, it would appear that the KDU has taken every possible measure to avoid any irregularity in selection of candidates and also to uphold the principle of good governance by ensuring openness, transparency and accountability in the selection process.

Moreover, if any candidate is found to have provided false information, after selection, the University will take steps to terminate such candidate’s studentship in accordance with the terms of the Agreement entered into between the candidate and the University.

KDU Administration assures the candidates and their parents, medical professionals, university community and the general public that the process of admission of civilian students to the MBBS Degree Programme of KDU, was fair, reasonable and lawful. (Newswire)

The post Admission of civilian students to MBBS programme : KDU issues clarification appeared first on Newswire.

A lecturer at the Kotelawala Defence University who was arrested over a statement made about four Sri Lankans with suspected links to the terrorist outfit ISIS, who were arrested in India, has been granted bail.

According to the Police, the lecturer who was arrested by officials of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today was granted bail by the Fort Magistrate’s Court.  

The Police said the lecturer was arrested for having allegedly made a false and controversial statement during a televised interview recently. 

His comments were about the four ISIS suspects who were apprehended in Ahmedabad last Monday, following a bomb threat uncovered by local authorities.

Indian media reported that the terror activities were reportedly targeting the city’s airport as well as the Narendra Modi Stadium, which was hosting Indian Premier League matches.

The Hindu reported that the arrested Sri Lankans were alleged members of the National Thawheed Jamaath, the organisation accused of carrying out the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka. (Newswire)

The post Lankan ISIS suspects in India : KDU lecturer granted bail appeared first on Newswire.