The topic of private universities, especially private medical education, has long been a topic of discussion often leading to controversy. Critics frequently raise concerns about the quality and integrity of such institutions while questioning whether they merely ‘sell’ degrees.

These concerns have resurfaced in recent months as the Government’s efforts to recruit graduates for supplementary medical roles were met with opposition from several parties including trade unions representing the sector and state university students’ groups. This protest sparked islandwide strikes by supplementary medical professionals who demanded that graduates of state universities be given priority in the hiring process. The Government’s decision to halt local admissions to the Kotelawala Defence University’s medical faculty further intensified this debate. In response, civil society activists have called on the Government to clearly announce its position on private medical education in the country.

Sri Lanka’s State university system is considered a prestigious one. However, it suffers from a well-known lack of capacity which results in a large number of students who meet the minimum qualifications to study medicine being unable to secure a seat in public universities. In this context, private institutions have played a crucial role in bridging this gap by offering opportunities for students who would otherwise be left behind. This gap does not only exist in medicine. Many fields of study have seen the expansion of private educational opportunities while providing both academic and vocational qualifications. It is important to recognise that private education has in many ways expanded access to higher education and diversified the professional workforce in Sri Lanka.

While it is true that the concerns about quality cannot be dismissed, the solution should not be to shut down private medical colleges but rather to strengthen regulatory frameworks applicable to them. Clear, consistent and enforced standards should be applied to all institutions regardless of whether they are public or private. Accreditation, licensing, and periodic reviews must be implemented to ensure that private medical education meets the same rigorous standards as public institutions. In fact, many of the world's most prestigious universities including Harvard, Stanford, Yale, MIT and Princeton are private institutions. The difference is not in the label ‘private’, but in the quality of education provided by them. If properly operated and regulated, private universities in Sri Lanka would even match the quality of State-run universities.

In the context of brain drain and growing medical workforce shortages, Sri Lanka needs to produce more qualified professionals than ever before. Relying solely on State-run universities will not be sufficient. Private institutions, if held to proper standards, can play a significant role in producing this necessary workforce which will in turn strengthen the health system and reduce the impacts of brain drain in the health sector. In addition, private universities can help position Sri Lanka as an educational hub in South Asia. With regulation aligned with international best practices, these institutions could contribute to innovation, research, and specialisation, especially in fields such as healthcare, biotechnology, and medical technology.

All this points to the intricate nature of this issue. In fact, not all opposition to private universities is based on quality-related concerns. A significant part of the resistance is political, which is often tied to ideological preferences for public education and scepticism about private education. The Government should not give in to these political agenda, and instead try to present scientific decisions that focus on outcomes rather than ideologies. Sri Lanka needs to take a firm decision as to how it is going to handle private medical education. If issues exist regarding the quality of private institutions, they should be investigated; if they are found to meet standards but require improvements, they should be supported to do that; and if there are any ongoing probes into the quality of private education, they should be expedited. That is what needs to happen. The goal should not be to eliminate private educational opportunities but to ensure that all students receive a high-quality, affordable education.