Reforms of medical education and the examination for registration to practice medicine in Sri Lanka

doi:10.3760/cma.j.cn115259-20250524-00583

Abstract

Abstract: China has become one of the world′s major destinations for international students. In recent years, Sri Lanka has emerged as a significant source country of international medical students studying in China. This paper aims to analyze the reforms in medical education and the medical licensing examination in Sri Lanka. Drawing on publicly available information and the author′s years of practical experience in international medical education, it begins with an overview of the current state of medical education in Sri Lanka, systematically reviews the institutional structure and recent policy reforms of its Examination for Registration to Practice Medicine (ERPM), and employs an international comparative perspective to explore the driving forces behind these reforms. The study finds that the medical education system in Sri Lanka emphasizes the integration of theoretical knowledge and clinical practice, and its licensing examination is progressively transitioning toward internationally recognized evaluation methods in both content and format. This transformation reflects not only the country′s internal needs for healthcare talent development but also the influence of global trends toward standardization in medical education.

Key words: Sri Lanka, Examination to Register to Practise Medicine, Transnational medical education, International students in China, Clinical medicine

CLC Number:

Chen Weiying, Wickremasinghe Vineth Vimukthi, Chen Weilong. Reforms of medical education and the examination for registration to practice medicine in Sri Lanka[J]. Chinese Journal of Medical Education, 2026, 46(5): 390-394.

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