Message from the Chairman
South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) is the first private sector ‘Green Campus' in Sri Lanka. As the President, I am very happy that I have been able to successfully establish a private campus in Sri Lanka to teach Medicine, Engineering, ICT and Media and Business Management. Also, this is, I believe the first time that the private sector has been able to enter the field of higher education in Medicine in Sri Lanka successfully. It is my belief that the certificates and degrees alone do not make education complete. Our intention is to produce educated young men and women with character through SAITM. We aim to provide affordable higher education opportunities to many prospective students.
At present there are five (05) faculties at SAITM, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Management & Finance, Faculty of ICT & Media and the Faculty of Allied Health and Behavioral Sciences. Our foreign University partners include Nizhny Novgorod State Medical Academy Russian Federation, Asian Institute of Technology – Bangkok (AIT), Buckinghamshire New University - UK, RMIT University Australia, RMIT University Vietnam and University of Newcastle, Australia. The Deans and Heads of the four faculties are highly qualified senior academics with experience at state universities in Sri Lanka. The academic staff consist of professors and lecturers recruited conforming to guidelines of University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka.
SAITM is being monitored by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and has been granted Degree awarding status by the Gazette EO NO.1721/19 of 2011 August 30 and EO 1829/36 of 2013 September 26, issued by the Minister of Higher Education. Students who join SAITM Medical faculty will be awarded MBBS degree in Sri Lanka.
Dr. Neville Fernando Sri Lanka – Russia Friendship Teaching Hospital (NFTH) was ceremonially opened on 5th of April 2013 for the public and medical students of SAITM for clinical training. At present, the hospital has employed eminent professors and consultants. All equipment which have been installed are of latest technology in the market. The hospital has 5 professorial units, namely, Medical, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Surgical, Pediatrics and Psychiatric unit.
SAITM also offers B.Sc. Engineering degrees with 4 year full time courses approved by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) (Gazette Notifications: Gazette EO No. 1913/14 of 2015 May 07 & Gazette EO No. 1960/04 of 2016 March 28).
SAITM engineering graduates, if they desire can progress to masters / PhD programs in any recognized university local or abroad. Already 350+ engineers produced by SAITM are practicing in Sri Lanka and abroad.
The first ever Degree in Sri Lanka for Interactive Media is offered at SAITM with affiliation to Buckinghamshire New University – UK. Also we conduct degree programs in Management and Finance in affiliation with Buckinghamshire New University – UK.
At SAITM students are encouraged to use our modern library consisting of large number of latest books and CDs covering a vast area of subjects. SAITM library has been expanded recently and students have access to e-library and British Medical Journal (BMJ). Also, I have provided a state of art auditorium which can house 550 guests and it is my intention to have a modern faculty of Performing arts at SAITM.
In accordance with the Green Concept, I have taken many steps to preserve the environment in and around the campus and I request the students to live in harmony with the environment and nature. In these vast campus buildings, built for you, I have made it environmental friendly to get the maximum flow of air in to the buildings, light and minimum usage of electricity. The landscaped gardens of the campus premises consist of many fruit trees to encourage birds, bees and butterflies.
Even though SAITM is a private institution students have to observe a strict code of discipline. They have to adhere to a proper dress code and it is prohibited to smoke and it will be a serious offence to bring liquor to the premises.
There are more facilities such as fully equipped laboratories, Canteen providing healthy and nourishing food, a dedicated student lounge and study areas, student lounge and study areas, free Wi-Fi, sports facilities and support in developing extracurricular activities. A director for sports is in charge of sports activities and director aesthetics for aesthetics.
This modern institution is my gift to the nation which has given me much good education, good life and health. I urge students to make use of these modern facilities to improve their knowledge and be men and women of character and I invite prospective students to visit our campus so that they can assess the quality of education and other facilities SAITM is providing.
Dr. Neville Fernando
MBBS (Ceylon)