BACKGROUND

The Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura was established in 1992 under the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978 under section 21. This is one of the eight medical schools in Sri Lanka and is organized as 15 academic departments. The faculty currently offers undergraduate courses in Medicine (MBBS), Human Biology (B.Sc), Nursing (BSc), Pharmacy (BSc) and Medical Laboratory Sciences (BSc).

The main institutional objectives are

• To develop and apply attributes and personal characteristics necessary for a productive professional relationship.
• To apply basic scientific knowledge in a wide range of practice situations.
• To diagnose and rationally manage a defined range of health problems in Sri Lanka.
• To communicate effectively.
• To comprehend and apply ethical values associated with professional practice.
• To apply the principles and practice of medicine in a community.
• To contribute to the health system of a country as a primary care physician.
• To demonstrate the ability to lead, guide and co-ordinate the work of others.
• To evaluate their own performance and seek assistance where necessary.
• To keep abreast of advancing medical knowledge.

Faculty of Medical Sciences is located just outside the city of Colombo and is within 15 minutes traveling time to the main teaching hospital, Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Kalubowila. Several other hospitals are utilized for teaching namely, Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, Homagama Hospital and Cancer Institute Maharagama. The National Hospital of Sri Lanka is also in close proximity, where the students are exposed to certain sub specialties such as Neuro-surgery and Paediatric surgery.

The Social paediatric program conducted by the Departments of Paediatrics & Community Medicine provides an opportunity for the students to study environmental, social, economic and medical problems of a allocated family residing in the suburban setting around the university. This program is carried out during the final year of undergraduate course.

The Family Practice Centre caters to the surrounding semi urban population of Wijerama, providing treatment services to the area and is also utilized as a teaching center and to interact with the local community. It demonstrates the advantages and disadvantages of a family practice to the students, guides students in setting up their own practice, and is a model family practice centre used to train undergraduate as well as post graduate students. A pool of family physicians in the area participates in providing clinical training in Family Medicine.

The first batch of students (128) enrolled in March 1993 and graduated in 1998. The second batch of students was enrolled in November 1993.

There are 1241 undergraduate students enrolled for medical and other paramedical courses. The entry criteria are based on the results of the G.C.E. Advanced level examination. The University Grants Commission controls the selection and allocation to different faculties.

The medical course was planned for four and a half years of academic and professional studies. And students have been assessed at four levels, 2nd MBBS, 3rd MBBS (Part 1 and Part 2) and the final MBBS examination under the traditional curriculum until 2007, which is being phased out by an integrated (both horizontally and vertically) curriculum.