What's Wrong with a Private Medical College in Sri Lanka?

How will privatization kill free education?  Higher education is only limited to a few due to the limited number of students accepted after the A/L.  There will always be students vying for these slots.  So I fail to understand how privatization will kill free education?  If medical degrees granted from foreign universities can be recognized by Sri Lanka, why cannot they also recognize degress granted from Malabe?

I think this is a matter of the "haves" trying to keep everything to themselves.  I think that the GMOA is scared that they will now have more competition.  The Malabe proponents have cleverly pointed out that if the GMOA is against private medical colleges, then they should stop private practice as well.

GMOA has also cited quality as an issue.  This is a very legitimate concern.  I do not want people to be misdiagnosed.  But natural law says that incompetent doctors would eventually get weeded out.  In the long run, this should take care of itself.  But more importantly, I think the government should establish a clear set of guidelines to measure the standards of private colleges, especially medical colleges.  This would solve most of the legitimate concerns that people have.  However, I am not sure if the government teaching hospitals would pass those standards either.  Nevertheless, it would be a good idea for the future.

Say what you want about the present government.  I give them two thumbs up for taking this giant step.  All previous governments have been to scared to take on the JVP inspired GMOA.  All our neighboring countries have private medical colleges and they have benefited from them well.  In fact, many Sri Lankans go there as well.  Why should they go to another third world country when they could get the same or better here at home?  Having a private medical college in Sri Lanka will also keep a lot of money in Sri Lanka that would otherwise flow out of Sri Lanka.

The Malabe College might not be perfect when it starts off.  But give them a chance and some time and I am sure they will do quite well.  The naysayers were successful in closing down the first such project in Ragama but I have a feeling that this one will be successful.  After all, privatization has made many other facets of our life better.  I have no doubt that this will go the same way.  Just look at examples in our enighboring countries if it is so hard to believe...