Get Trump an Atlas

Geography 101: “Get Trump an Atlas”. Trump Wants to Bomb North Korea With Nuclear Weapons. Where is the Target Country?

By Prof Michel Chossudovsky, August 10, 2017

 

What about Donald Trump who has his thumb on the nuclear button. What is his knowledge of geography.

 

“Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity”. Martin Luther King Jr.

US North Korea Cartoons

Prof.Hiran Amerasekara quote on SAITM

'' This is a country where the infant mortality rate is the lowest in the region. It is a country where epidemics have been eradicated. Polio was eradicated in this country before India. All of this was possible because of the quality medical education in Sri Lanka and the dedication of qualified doctors.

We cannot let such a country go to decay because of one institution''
Prof.Hiran Amerasekara

 

SAITM students will not be accepted by any country

Prof. Hiran Ameraseker

SAITM students will not be accepted by any country– Prof. Hiran Ameraseker

By Rasika Hemamali

Professor Hiran Amerasekera of the Sri Jayewardenepura University says,

"The government should do justice to the students who have enrolled in SAITM because the former government allowed the establishment of SAITM."

Following are excerpts:

?: Even though no one opposes private universities, there is a lot of opposition to private medical colleges. Why is that?

A: Other universities grant only a degree. Finding a job based on that degree is a responsibility of those graduates. However, when it comes to medical students, they receive a job in the government sector. This is the big problem here. Employers who recruit graduates consider the quality of the degree. When a doctor is recruited as a government medical officer, the Sri Lanka Medical Council inquires into the quality of that degree. Patients are a group of people without a voice. They do not know why they go to a hospital and for what disease. The science of diagnosing a disease is very complex. One should become a doctor and be trained according to the criteria set by the Medical Council. The problem here is not obtaining a degree. SAITM has already granted the degree. So tell them to go to any place as a doctor. They cannot do so and that is because they do not have the approval of the Sri Lanka Medical Council.

?: Several batches have already obtained degrees from SAITM. Shouldn't there be justice for them?

A: The criteria required to become a doctor in Sri Lanka, from the beginning, is stated on the website of the Sri Lanka Medical Council. This information includes the minimum qualifications needed, the universities in the world approved by the SLMC. Last year, a certain university in Bangladesh lost the approval of the Medical Council. Details were provided about SAITM from the initial stages and newspaper statements were published to raise awareness among the people. Despite this students entered SAITM.
 
?: However, now there should be justice for the students who are already there?

A: The government should do justice to the students who have entered SAITM. It was due to certain actions of the government that this was established.
 
?: Aren't the parents of SAITM students also helpless due to this?

A: It is bus Gemunu who is shouting about SAITM. That is also a great tragedy. Neither SAITM students nor their parents come forward. I know some of the parents. They do not want to come into the limelight. It is Gemunu who comes to the forefront. He believes that if you display some bravado in the manner of a ruffian in front of the media, something can be won over in Sri Lanka. See what happened to the Medical Service as well as the private bus service. See whether a private bus travels to a village after six in the evening. When they were asked not to violate road rules, they engaged in a strike asking to be allowed to travel on the road while breaking all laws.

It is possible for any child to have dreams. But, ask them to consider this from their point of view. Is the education they are receiving good? Consider whether they receive a proper
education? They did not take it into consideration. At least now they should look into it. Act properly without behaving like ruffians. Practical training regarding a disease has to be
done properly. A proper number of patients should be examined in order to receive training.

At present this degree is said to cost Rs 12 million. Not one doctor has been produced yet but they charge Rs 12 million. If doctors are produced do not know how much it will become.
 
There is no place at all for innocent poor people in Sri Lanka.
 
?: Are you saying that SAITM does not give proper training?

A: That institution acted in a fraudulent manner from the very beginning. That is why this problem occurred. If they had maintained specified educational criteria then there would have been no problem. There are children in our universities today as well. If the degree is given today they are prepared to take it and go. The medical field in Sri Lanka is not only about treatment of patients. Today even when human rights indices and education indices decline medical indices remain at a very high level. The medical indices achieved by our country at a very low cost are quite high. This is a country where the infant mortality rate is the lowest in the region. It is a country where epidemics have been eradicated. Polio was
eradicated in this country before India. All of this was possible because of the quality medical education in Sri Lanka and the dedication of qualified doctors. We cannot let such a country go to decay because of one institution.

Even the government has to have a positive outlook on this. This is one opportunity to protect the quality of education and the health service in the country. If this continues like this, the health indices will be finished. It will be the end of the education indices also.

?: The North Colombo Medical College or the Ragama Medical College was nationalized. Can the same be done with this institution?

A: The North Colombo Medical Faculty was quite different. Then, Professor Carlo Fonseka said the quality of students at the North Colombo Medical Faculty was good. The SLMC is an independent institution under the presidency of Professor Carlo Fonseka. I don't know whether they are aware that the situation at SAITM is really bad. They are not persons who are opposed to private education or private medical education. The problem is about how SAITM acts and its quality. The Medical Council says that SAITM should be transformed into a quality institution.

?: But, although there is opposition against SAITM no one is against the Kotelawala Medical Faculty?

A: The Kotelawala Medical Faculty is a place where military doctors are produced. It has the approval of the Medical Council. It is not an institution like SAITM, which is engaged in cheating. There is a good staff there and clinical training is given from the initial stages. There are patients in Army hospitals. Students of the Kotelawala Medical Faculty are not sent to the General Hospital for clinical training. The other thing is that students are not recruited to the Kotelawala Faculty simply. They are admitted based on Z-score.
 
?: If the Neville Fernando-SAITM- Hospital does not have adequate facilities or patients for clinical training, is it not possible to use government hospitals?

A: A patient has rights. When a student goes and tries to handle a patient in a serious condition, that patient's rights are violated.
This opportunity has been granted to medical students because of free education and free health. If so, they can then go and use patients at private hospitals. Such opportunities are not granted. If the students want to examine a patient they would have to pay the patient something. There is a big problem similar to that in every country.

?: However, it is possible to practice medicine after obtaining a medical degree from a foreign country, is it not?

A: If the student obtains the degree from a foreign university approved by the SLMC, then they can become a doctor here. When they return they have to sit the Act 16 examination and pass that. Now it is known as EPMRM. It is not easy to get through that.

Only a very few become successful.

?: Many doctors produced by State universities do not remain in the country. As a result, we do not have a sufficient number of doctors. Aren't private medical colleges a solution for this problem?

A: Even though doctors produced by State Medical Colleges are recognized by foreign countries, SAITM students will not be accepted by any country. They do not have proper training. The solution for the shortage of medical officers is to produce doctors of proper quality.

?: Establishing private medical colleges here is a way to prevent local money from flowing out to foreign countries, isn't it?

A: Everything else is imported aren't they? Now rice is also being brought from overseas. Money is not a problem. What should be done is that quality should be protected.

?: Students with good results are deprived of entering medical colleges because of the district quota system. Isn't this a solution for that problem too?

A: The government should provide remedies for that. Every child should be given an opportunity to study. It should be done under proper standards.

END.

SAITM எதிர்ப்பு போராட்ட வீடியோ காட்சிகள்

1. 6:42

        

   Water canon and tear gas fired at anti SAITM student protest march - Duration: 6:42.

    
2. 4:48

      

   SAITM protesters hit with tear gas - Duration: 4:48.

    
3. 4:24

        

   SAITM PROTEST - Duration: 4:24.

4. 2:59

        

   protests against the SAITM Today - Duration: 2:59.

5. 3:23

        

   Anti-SAITM protest march to reach Colombo today (English) - Duration: 3:23.

    
6. 2:43

        

   Five-day anti-SAITM protest march to commence from Peradeniya today - Duration: 2:43.

    
7. 2:30

        

   Med students launch anti-SAITM protest - Duration: 2:30.

   ...
8. 1:44

        

   Med students launch anti-SAITM protest - Duration: 1:44.

    
9.  

   University student stage motorcade protest in Colombo against SAITM - Duration: 3:50.

    
10. 3:37

         Anti-SAITM protest march to reach Colombo today - Duration: 3:37.

       

 

SAITM எதிர்ப்பு மாணவர் எழுச்சி ஓங்குக! வெல்க!!

Dr. Dhammika Herath

What’s Wrong with SAITM?
Dr. Dhammika Herath

The debate about South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) appears to be heating up, at least at this late hour, with all the stakeholders throwing in their two cents worth. While I do not have any vested interests, except the interest of being a person who benefited from “free education”, let me throw in my two cents.

The Paradox of Opinions


 As a preamble to my viewpoint on SAITM, let’s examine some of the arguments put forward by different factions who clearly have their own agendas.

1.The process of admission to SAITM is flawed, students who do not qualify for a basic degree in sciences study Medicine at SAITM. This argument has some validity and credibility, and it will hold ground until all the information is available to all concerned parties.

2.SAITM is a private institution, medical education should not be privatised. This is a recurrent theme, but unrealistic to say the least. While education is not a commodity, whether we like it not, it’s a commodity in a market economy, where everything has a price, including justice. This argument does not hold much ground in its pure sense. But I will explore further some of the questions related to this issue of private institutions.

3.Training at SAITM is sub-par, and was not recognised by the Sri Lanka Medical Council. This is a valid argument, and SLMC has a list of recognised medical colleges as listed and recognised by WHO. There are several medical colleges in the world which are not recognised by WHO or any other country. Interested readers can simply Google or refer to the WHO website as this is public information. Some years ago, the SLMC, after examining the SAITM gave its verdict; SAITM does not qualify to be recognised as an institution since its standards do not meet required criteria. This was open information to everyone who followed this saga closely.

4.SAITM or local private medical schools save valuable foreign exchange. This is the most ludicrous argument for SAITM and we do not need to look far to realise how ridiculous this idea is. SAITM will not prevent students who aspire to become doctors travelling abroad, and getting their medical degrees from for-profit institutions, the quality of which are highly questionable. If we look at the foreign exchange that Sri Lanka lost for some famous deals, like MIG deal, Hedging Deal, Prado deal, these are fine examples of how we lose foreign exchange. Further discussion in this area is not really useful or meaningful in Sri Lanka.

5.SAITM students and students who can afford it have a right to education, including medical education. This argument has apparent validity, at least on face value. We can talk about this right once we are absolutely free, but not in a modern, highly regularised age. Education is based on merits and needs of the country, not on individual aspirations. Definitely not because you can afford it.
What’s Wrong with SAITM?

The critical issue that’s being ignored is the context of the establishment of SAITM and its core functions. Many social commentators, students and unions ignore this critical but unpleasant area from their discussion and continue to beat the strawman.

SAITM is quite similar in its inception and evolution to another institution that cost many lives and a generation to Sri Lanka – the North Colombo Medical College popularly known as NCMC. SAITM is a PRIVATE organisation and it lied to BOI, SLMC as well as its very own students about its credentials.

Even for a moment, if this institution is a legal entity, training and teaching must occur within the parameters of a private organisation, looking after its clientele, the undergraduates. It should deal with its own problems of finding clinical training as any other private organisation would do when faced with similar issues.

The State is not there to bail out failing private ventures or its participants. That is neither free market nor good governance. SAITM does not have any legal or moral right to request government facilities for their training purposes, as it’s a private, for- profit institution and government is in no way obliged to provide or share scarce facilities with any private institution, breaking all the fundamentals of free markets, overlooking its own commitments to public students.

This is exactly what’s happening now, that government is interfering with private affairs, and the million dollar question is, why ?The answer lies at the heart of the intentions of the founders of SAITM. Beside profit motive, the other motives are perpetuation of elitism and nepotism.

Let me discuss this topic little further. Most of the students, who are studying at SAITM are not kith and kin of politicians. They are sons and daughters of lawyers, doctors, professionals and academics. Here lies the core issue, as happened 35 years ago; they are grooming the next generation to occupy the very seats and positions that they are holding right now.

Sri Lankan universities and government institutions are bastions of nepotism, particularly key government positions and positions in universities. This is precisely why SAITM came into being, that’s precisely why no one really objected to the blatant deceptions by the management of SAITM.
Furthermore, this is one of the critical reasons government is involved in the affairs of private business venture and judgments were meted out, violating all the norms and morals a just society demands. At the hands of nepotism and elitism, there will not be any morals or rules in a backward country like Sri Lanka.

These very forces who are working against the best interests of the under privileged continue to lie and deceive using soft language, nonsensical arguments about free education, human rights and so on and so forth.

Let’s take another fascinating aspect of this whole saga; the students who study at SAITM, are responsible adults aspiring to treat other human beings, following principals of justice, and causing no harm. They should be able to make complex decisions in relation to treating human maladies which are becoming increasingly complex. What is their level of intellect, if they cannot understand, and analyse critically, that the very institution they study in is responsible for their predicament?
The students of SAITM, are wholly responsible for (or their parents) investing in an institution without clarifying its standing or by simply Googling it, as even a eighth grader would do nowadays.
They have been deceived by the SAITM and the students should take legal action against this institution for failing them so vividly, robbing their money, causing pain and grief. This I doubt will ever happen, simply because their elite parents and kith and kin are so sure that they will “sort things out for their kids”.

This is the real problem with SAITM and this is what Sri Lankans really have to deal with it. Since politicians will capitalise on this issue, there will be no justice for poor similarly qualified students of Sri Lanka. Once SAITM gets its approval, as it seems it will, the Sri Lankan government will annihilate the education once and for all. That’s something we cannot afford.

SAITM is a priceless gift to the nation. Why on earth would anyone be against it. Those who are against it are those typical selfish bigots who practice “Kuhaka Dharmaya”. If all other educational spheres can have private university education why not medicine? The only reason is that local medics are apprehensive that they will face though competition from better educated private degree holders.
That the raw truth.

Further the article has been written by a product of the Nations “Free” education system. (ie. Free for them but a heavy cost to Society)So the ultimate message he tries to give is a foregone conclusion.

The facts in the article are mostly invalid today and the demand for the education. If the education is not a commodity, it should be provided free for every body need it. Can any government do it?

Otherwise , there should be alternatives. If any wrong with SAITM, the rulers should take action to correct it. Did the writer think, all students in state universities have better qualification than SAITM students had? He has to think the injustice faced by the majority of the students not having a chance to enter state universities ,because of system lapses.I am not a Pr-SAITM but, see the reality and the cause of the problem.

Certain defects were identified by SLMC and asked to correct them to get the approval from SLMC. However the defects were not corrected and Gone to the courts to get the approval from SLMC. That’s the problem here. SLMC is the independent governing body of Doctors. So SAITM is challenging their recommendations.

 The next option would be to keep the defects and produce students with a degree which has no approval from SLMC.

 And clear the Act 16 like other foreign graduates. Because they are now obtaining a degree without SLMC approval.

“What if the cure for cancer is trapped in the mind of someone who can’t afford education?”

Everyone deserves to be educated. It’s sad that intelligent people drop out because they can’t afford to take another loan or because books got too expensive. Other students juggle 3 jobs with their classes. Education wouldn’t be free even if it was, we would be paying back our community by studying hard and getting a decent job! Education elevates one’s status, we want to elevate our country’s status. (Debate.org)



 

GMOA to meet other TUs for further anti-SAITM action

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA)

will meet with all other trade unions on Wednesday (9) to discuss further action to be taken against abolishing the South Asian Institute of Technology & Medicine (SAITM).

GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr Navin De Soysa told the Sunday Times that, if the President and the Prime Minister do not show an interest in solving the issue, then we will have to discuss further trade union action.

“Discussions will be held with all other trade unions and political parties which participated in the National Protest Day,” he said.

When queried about the refusal to gazette the minimum standards of Medical Education by the Attorney Generals (AG) Dept, Dr De Soysa said the AG’s Dept has stated that the Sri Lanka Medical Association cannot intervene in such matters, according to the prevailing Medical Ordinance.

“If there is an obstacle blocking the gazette, then, as a means of safeguarding Medical education, they should amend the Medical Ordinance and approve the gazette,” he said.

However, the Prime Minister has appointed MP Tilak Marapana and his Secretary Saman Ekanayaka to oversee matters in this regard.

GST கழக எதிர்ப்பு முழக்க சுவரொட்டி

மக்கள் ஜனநாயக இளைஞர் கழகம்
வாழ்க வாழ்க வாழ்கவே!

 

மார்க்சிய- லெனினிய-மாவோ சிந்தனை வெல்க,வெல்க,
வெல்கவே!

 

பன்னாட்டு உள்நாட்டு முதலாளிகளின் கார்ப்பரேட்
முதலாளிகளுக்கு சேவை செய்யும் ஜி.எஸ்.டி-ஐ
 திரும்பப்பெறு திரும்பப்பெறு!

 

உலகமய கொள்கைகளால்
செல்லாக்காசு நடவடிக்கையால்..
வாழ்விழந்த வணிகர்களை
வாழ்விழந்த விவசாயிகளை
அழிக்க வந்த ஜி.எஸ். டி. ஐ..
முறியடிப்போம்.....!முறியடிப்போம்.....!

 

வேலை வாய்ப்பை வழங்குகின்ற..
அந்நிய செலவாணி ஈட்டுகின்ற..
சிறு குறுந் தொழில்களை அழிக்கின்ற..
ஜி.எஸ்.டி. சட்டத்தை
 திரும்பப்பெறு...!திரும்பப்பெறு...!

 

ஏகாதிபத்திய அமெரிக்காவின்
 முழுமையான ஆதிக்கத்தில்
 இந்தியாவை கொண்டுவரும்
 புதிய காலனிய வரி விதிப்பை
 ஜி.எஸ்.டி. வரி விதிப்பை
 முறியடிப்போம்..முறியடிப்போம்..

 

அரசியல் அமைப்புச் சட்டத்தை
 அப்பட்டமாக மீறியே..
மொழிவழி மாநில உரிமைகளை
 அடியோடு அபகரித்து
 தேசிய இனங்களை ஓட்டாண்டியாக்கும்
 ஜி.எஸ்.டி. சட்டத்தை
 முறியடிப்போம்...!முறியடிப்போம்..!

ENB - SAITM எதிர்ப்பு மாணவர் போராட்டம் வெல்க!

GST- கழக ஆதரவு ENB சுவரொட்டி