Page 4 - 2nd Issue- RuAHS Newsletter

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There were several requirement set by the Director of Nursing (Medical Services),
SLNC to get a nursing degree program Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka collectively
accredited. The department of nursing at the made efforts to influence the relevant
FAHS provided all the information requested authorities to re-establish the council and to
by the nursing council and fulfilled all the expedite the accreditation process. Finally,
requirements requested by the SLNC without the SLNC was re-established in 2021 and
any delays to expedite the registration process. started its normal activities in February 2022.
In this endeavor a curriculum revision was
done by adding more nursing subjects and by Once the council was established, the nursing
modifying the existing curricular to maintain degree programme of the, University of
professional standards of the degree Ruhuna, Galle requested from the SLNC to
programme as expected by the council. restart the accreditation and registration
process of the Nursing degree program at the
A site visit was done by the members of the University of Ruhuna. As a result, five
SLNC on 22nd January 2016 to evaluate the executive members including the president of
degree program, and they again requested the SLNC visited the department on 26th June
several modifications to be done to the degree 2022 for evaluation and they were highly
program for consideration for accreditation. satisfied with the standards maintained by the
The required changes were done and requested degree program and granted SLNC approval
them to revisit the department in November for the degree with effect from 26th June
2016 for evaluation. However, the SLNC was 2022. This was a remarkable achievement for
dissolved in 2017, and as a result, we were the Nursing Degree programme at the
unable to proceed with SLNC registration University of Ruhuna. The SLNC approval
activities. This incident seriously affected the for the nursing degree at the University of
career perspectives of our graduates. By 2017, Ruhuna would assist the graduates to continue
eight batches of Ruhuna university nursing their higher studies in foreign countries and
graduates were waiting for SLNC registration secure decent jobs in the field of nursing
and many of them had given up nursing carrier practice in foreign countries. Further, the
and shifted to other employment areas due to accreditation status of the nursing degree
this delay in getting SLNC registration. program would also assist the University of
Further, a significant number of nursing Ruhuna to upgrade its ranking in the higher
graduates of the University of Ruhuna were education sector. Now, academic, non-
unable to apply for foreign employments due to academic and undergraduates at the
these issues of registration. Academic members department of nursing have the responsibility
of the department made their best efforts to of improving the current status of the degree
solve this issue by mobilizing the authorities, program to achieve international recognition
but were not successful. There were no clues of so that to attract national and international
re-establishment of the council due to a legal students to pursue basic and postgraduate
issue for a long period of time. Many degree programs of Nursing at the University
academics and officers in the Ministry of of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka. This would
Health Sri Lanka including Senior Prof. eventually assist Sri Lanka to fulfill United
Sujeewa Amarasena, Vice Chancellor of the Nation sustainable development goals and
University of Ruhuna, Prof. Imendra Kotapola, contribute to become a developed country in
Dean of the FAHS, Dr. Bimba the coming decade.
Wickramarachchi, current Head of the
Department of Nursing, Ms. Eranthi
Weeratunga former Head of the Department of
Nursing and, Ms. MBC Samanmalie,
October 2022 03