Speaker’s false Doctoral title is an insult to Parliament as the oldest in Asia: UNP

10 December 2024 10:04 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 50 Bookmark

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Colombo, December 10 (Daily Mirror)- Asserting that it was verified with Waseda University in Japan that Speaker Ashoka Ranwala has never been a student of it, the UNP yesterday said the fake Doctoral title is an insult on Parliament as the oldest in Asia and nation as a whole.

“Sri Lanka’s Parliament is first in Asia and the whole world is closely monitoring what is happening in it frequently. Therefore, allegation that Sri Lankan Speaker falsely claims to be having a Doctorate is an insult to the country.

“Accordingly, he should resign from his post immediately,” former MP Talatha Athukorala told a hurriedly summoned press conference on behalf of the party .

Ms. Athukorala said that electoral leaflets printed and distributed by NPP during the election in the Gampaha District has also said that the Speaker has followed a post graduate study course at Waseda University Japan. Accordingly, she said the people in the Gampaha District and voters in the entire nation have been deceived.

“This situation has created doubts on education credentials of other NPP MPs. We are beginning to get information on false credentials presented by another NPP MP,” she added.

Recalling that NPP had pledged to clean up the legislature during the Presidential and General Elections, Ms. Athukorala questioned whether one could expect such a noble exercise from persons who spread falsehood.

Comments - 50

Yoosuf Zakeriya Tuesday, 10 December 2024 11:17 PM

Voters cast their votes based on the party and policies. If he doesn`t have a university degree, it will not disqualify him from being an MP and speaker. Every MP need not have such a degree. The opposition is trying to discredit the government on an unnecessary issue. How many of the previous parliament speakers were degree holders? Where were these people, when there were drug dealers, and criminals sat in the parliament ?

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SLEx Wednesday, 11 December 2024 10:26 AM

Two wrongs don't make a right. Especially when NPP came to power because people wanted corruption out of the way. Since when has he been using his PhD to fool people? Go check Biogenic Green Technology Research Institute on FB. How can he run a Research Institute without a PhD? Forget the education qualifications, a Speaker, the 3rd citizen should have some sort of integrity. This shows he has non at all. Its an insult to all the PhD holders that did years of research and hard work to get theirs.

5 81

Gune Wednesday, 11 December 2024 10:47 AM

It is not about whether you have a degree or not, it is about deception, lying and misrepresentation. Lying about your qualifications and not adhering to what NPP said a number of times during their election campaign. They always said that SL would need qualified people in Parliament which I agree. They never said they would field candidates with fake qualifications. That is the issue. It is up to this Speaker to prove it otherwise.

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Latha Wednesday, 11 December 2024 11:12 AM

Sorry NPP voter, You mean duality is the system change? Having two passports, fraud birth certificate like former JVP one is ok? This bluetooth party speaker has to answer without wasting time.

1 22

Lanka Tuesday, 10 December 2024 11:23 PM

Don’t try to make politics out of this: do you need any qualifications to work as the speaker of the parliament: whether has it or not, it doesn’t matter : he is not going to work in any university.. do you know who needs a PHD ? All those who work in university must have it to teach and research : now go and find how many have got fake phd ? Question them all : this not a big issue and don’t try hide your failure with this : how much money is looted in your government???

69 14

FairJudge Wednesday, 11 December 2024 12:37 PM

You missed the point. It is NOT about whether a Speaker needs a degree. It is about whether he actually had deceptive conduct by falsifying his academic qualifications. I'm an NPP supporter, but not a supporter of liers. He should resign immediately from Parliament as well if he faked and misrepresented his his academic records.

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Links: Wednesday, 11 December 2024 03:08 PM

Yes I too agree. If he had done it he must resign

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මෝඩ කැලුම් Tuesday, 10 December 2024 11:30 PM

The statement is from the UNP. Their official view is that Japan is not in Asia - W.O.W.!!! The oldest legislative body - parliament - is in Japan which dates back to1889.

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OVER TO YOU MY. PRESIDENT Tuesday, 10 December 2024 11:44 PM

THE PRESIDENT WILL DEAL WITH THE MATTER ONCE HE GETS CLARIFICATION AND TAKE NECESSARY ACTION, IT IS HIS JOB NOT YOURS. ACCEPT THE FACT THAT YOU NOR YOUR PARTY GOT A MAJORITY. WE THE PEOPLE DO NOT GIVE A RATS TAIL WHO AND OR WHAT THEIR STATUS IS PROFESSIONALLY, AS LONG AS THEY MANAGE THEIR PORTFOLIOS AND ASSIST THE PRESIDENT TO MOVE THE COUNTRY FORWARD TAKING THE PEOPLE INCLUDING THE MAJORITY THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND FOR DECADES AND END THEIR SUFFERINGS. SOME PEOPLE HAVE MORE BRAINS THAN SOME QUALIFIED ON PAPER, HAVEN'T WE HEARD OF SAME IN PREVIOUS GOVT!!.

49 12

Whispering CAPS Wednesday, 11 December 2024 11:48 AM

Two wrongs don't make it right. And the UNPs wrongs doesn't erase the fact that OUR President's team messed this one up. Is it possible for you to make a statement without going all CAPS? LOL

0 19

Trust Is Fading If Recovery Not Handled Properly Wednesday, 11 December 2024 04:41 PM

Both AKD and HA must arrange a news conference on this matter ASAP. The longer they hold back, the trust factor which the NPP won big time recently will fade away. If a mistake or “overlook” was done, remove and replace the imposter immediately. Everyone voting NPP wants clean and productive governance. Had enough of malpractices over the years by previous regimes. Humans are known to make “mistakes” but what’s paramount is how the “recovery” is handled!

0 9

M Fernando Wednesday, 11 December 2024 12:22 AM

Fair enough. If it is fake, then some action must be taken.

0 62

Ranjan de Silva Wednesday, 11 December 2024 02:02 AM

It is in Sri Lanka that a 'tail' behind one's name is considered great. What really matters is not the Tail, but what one can do with that Tail is the question here? In reality, based on one's qualification there is an expectation that he/she has a certain theoretical knowledge. However, until that person knows how to marry this knowledge to the profession he/she has taken up and serve humanity- the qualification is not worth the paper it is written on.

26 7

P Kunchithapathan Wednesday, 11 December 2024 02:29 AM

The United National Party (UNP) should urgently consider appointing Thalatha Athukorale as its leader, given the evident failures of the current leadership under Ranil Wickremesinghe and his cousin, Ruwan Wijewardene, to revitalize and propel this grand old party to the forefront of Sri Lankan politics. Ranil Wickremesinghe's ill-considered decision to induct Ravi Karunanayake into the party and further elevate him to the position of vice president stands as a glaring misstep of monumental proportions. Thalatha Athukorale, with her proven capabilities, is well-positioned to spearhead a dynamic resurgence, breathing new life into the party's vision and operations. To pave the way for this transformative leadership, the UNP must also act decisively by revoking Ravi Karunanayake's membership without further delay. Only through such bold and strategic measures can the party reclaim its former stature and influence. Under the new theme of 'MAKE UNP GREAT AGAIN' start the campaign.

9 16

Ram P Wednesday, 11 December 2024 03:38 AM

Voters did not welcome you this time. Why not stay at home and lookafter your family now, than poking yourself into parliamentary matters when the Speaker has said he will make his response soon.

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A Concerned Citizen Wednesday, 11 December 2024 03:41 AM

Mrs. Athukorala who was apart from being part of corrupt and wrong politics now appears to have got a new life and the opportunity to throw mud at NPP Government. Therefore, NPP Government must take quick action and solve this qualification issue with new speaker ASAP. Ignoring it and hoping it will go away will make matter worse.

20 15

Rajaratnam Wednesday, 11 December 2024 03:49 AM

Historically until the early 80s, countries had limited number of universities and studying in a university was considered very special and prestigious. But then in the West the "Businessmen" got involved in higher education and started private universities and competed with established universities. So for survival lot of traditional universities lowered their standards created campuses all over the world and attracted as much students as possible. In lot of these universities getting a first degree became very easy and later even a research degree like the PhD was possible for candidates with sufficient funds and life experience substituting for proper four year research . There are thousands of people in Asia and Africa who have these bogus doctorates obtained from some universities in East Europe , Australia , Japan , and Korea .

3 7

Nelson Appuhamy Wednesday, 11 December 2024 04:21 AM

Athukorala, you are a sad loser indeed! If the speaker`s qualifications are found to be questionable, the new Govt will no doubt follow the strict NPP discipline unlike the political parties you serve, who turn a blind eye in such situations. By representing family politics and back stabbing the SJB leader aren't you part of a worse hypocrisy? Once an official statement comes out your criticism will fall flat making your look even worse. Try to find better acumen of the real faults of the Govt policies than picking crumbs to get yourself in the news in wain.

22 12

NeeLan Wednesday, 11 December 2024 06:01 AM

Agreed, he should resign his post and runaway from politics.

4 30

Izzy Wednesday, 11 December 2024 06:04 AM

I concur on principle, he should step down if proven. he claims to have a bogus doctorate. Likewise, let us see whether Naamal Rajapakse and his father are really lawyers! There may be more and the list goes on and one...

0 31

sivalingham Wednesday, 11 December 2024 06:05 AM

robbing the central bank is a honour ???

23 10

Dilakshan Seneviratne Wednesday, 11 December 2024 06:08 AM

NPP is crawling and festering on this issue without coming out with any decent explanation, thereby their credibility is eroding by the day. This is an absolute disappointment for all those who voted for them with trust and hope. The signs are definitely not good.

1 35

Mfb Wednesday, 11 December 2024 06:27 AM

This woman is no more a public figure and just an ordinary private citizen and why the journalist keep publishing statements from private citizens like us.

25 7

UniDon Wednesday, 11 December 2024 06:52 AM

MP Ranwala's case is just the tip of the iceberg. It appears that nearly all the 'professors' of NPP have earned their professorships through predatory journal publications. In the academic world, such publications are known to be fake and unethical.

4 20

Dilakshan Seneviratne Wednesday, 11 December 2024 01:59 PM

That’s a bit far fetched right? Cut it out.

4 2

Kikazaru Wednesday, 11 December 2024 06:53 AM

Doctorate or not you, your leader, your leader and the parties support your party has been sent packing by no uncertain terms by the votes of Sri Lanka. May I humbly suggest you go back home, brew a cup of Sri Lanka tea, turn on the TV, sit back and relax watching the channels that are still on a shopping spree.

24 4

Kumara Wednesday, 11 December 2024 07:15 AM

If the speaker has given a false educational qualification to the parliament it is an offence. He should resign from the post. With our parliamentary system there were several members with bogus qualifications so this may also will be the same.

0 32

ronikailadasa Wednesday, 11 December 2024 07:26 AM

Many such persons will come out of the woodwork when the Pandora box of Govt members is open. They have made an auspicious start which would be the style of governance too.

0 15

VRAJ Wednesday, 11 December 2024 07:54 AM

THE SPEAKER DOES NOT TAKE OATH. NOT NECESSARY PHD FOR THIS JOB.

31 3

ANVT Wednesday, 11 December 2024 10:38 PM

I AGREE , SABA ONLY ONE QUALIFICATION IS ENOUGH AND THAT IS EFFICIENTLY/ PROFICTION IN THREE LANGUAGES.

0 0

A Supporter of SJB Wednesday, 11 December 2024 08:13 AM

MPs of your former party SJB and current party UNP have made much worse contributions to Parliament. Compared to MPs of SJB and UNP, MPs of NPP are saints. So shut up your foul mouth and keep quiet.

22 9

Yehiya Wednesday, 11 December 2024 08:48 AM

He will get heart attack as previses . Take care . He must resign .

0 14

Sokrates Wednesday, 11 December 2024 08:48 AM

The biggest insult to the oldest parliament in Asia is that it has been ruled by uneducated, greedy and corrupt crooks for decades. Undoubtedly, there must be consequences for the Speaker's fraud (a doctorate is something you have to work hard for, unlike a title such as professor or bishop which is conferred on you). However, it is not a real insult to the country and other countries are not interested in such a thing. What is a real insult to Sri Lanka is that 15 years after the end of the civil war, war criminals are still roaming the streets freely.

5 20

Vernon Wednesday, 11 December 2024 08:52 AM

Opposition is trying to hang on to floating straws, to cover up their misdeeds and corrupt members, and the immense insults and hardships they created to the public by their corrupt dealings at the expense of public funds

17 10

Impress if it comes from a real source Wednesday, 11 December 2024 09:20 AM

Agree with you 100%. There are private universities in the world which are actually University Kada. They offer cheap education but at the end they offer a glorified certificate and a photograph taken in front of a massive banner sticker to impress the students and parents. What they don't have is the proof of a real graduation ceremony. People might fall for such impressive acts but what's the point?

0 12

wickrama Wijayasiri Wednesday, 11 December 2024 09:32 AM

Oldest does not mean much. You could call that the past was the most corrupt. Agree that not only the Speaker, but all members sitting there should be truthful and give meaning to its integrity. As for the Speaker, I cannot even remember the best person who did sit on that chair, as it kept on deteriorating. I trust the NPP leaders to redress if they have made an error. Crocodile tears.

5 5

Shabir Zainudeen Wednesday, 11 December 2024 09:58 AM

Thalatha should firct check her former bosse's credentials at London School of Ecnoomics, Sajith Premadasa,

10 7

SLEx Wednesday, 11 December 2024 10:39 AM

Not sure why everyone is saying don't speak because people have decided. They decided NPP to run the Govt, and all the other parties to be in the opposition. If no one is allowed to criticise mistakes of the government, might as well make it a dictatorship. You can't come to power promising eradication of corruption and advise all Govt servants in SOEs to have more integrity in their work if the Speaker doesn't have a single ounce of integrity himself. I hope NPP takes the right action to show an example that they do not protect their own if those individuals go against the peoples mandate.

0 14

D P P Prasad Wednesday, 11 December 2024 10:53 AM

It might be an insult to the parliament But nobody knows the actual academic qualifications of the certain politicians who were derived from Madamulana dynasty. Nevertheless so if Ranwala is found disqualified he should himself step down forthwith from the post of speaker. Meanwhile the retired election officer with a grey beard is more often criticising this issue who never raised his voice against Madamulna autocracy

2 10

A Supporter of Crooked Politicians Wednesday, 11 December 2024 10:55 AM

Ashoka Ranwala MUST be kept in Speaker's position. There was not a single Speaker with a PhD and only one or two with a bachelor's degree. Most of the Speakers in Sri Lanka were uneducated crooks. For example, we know how M.H. Mohamed handled impeachment against President R. Premadasa and how Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena calculated Constitutional Council vote when 4 voted against Deshabandu Tennakoon and 2 in favour and 2 abstained as a tie and he voted to break the tie making 5 in favour and 4 not in favour. So, it looks like Ashoka Ranwala too has crooked mentality so keep him in Speaker's job.

11 4

CitizenP Wednesday, 11 December 2024 11:11 AM

Time is running out.The speaker should clarify his Qualifications .Please do not allow opossition parties to take advantage of this matter.

0 11

Upulpb Wednesday, 11 December 2024 11:23 AM

Bankrupt political party like UNP and Thalatha who has no credibility or official capacity within the party should not worry and issue statements. NPP value integrity and once Speaker make his statement on this we, people who voted NPP to power are sure that President would take the most appropriate decision.

7 4

Rohan Solomon Wednesday, 11 December 2024 12:15 PM

I do not know apart from being elected what qualification you need to be a speaker. The question here is integrity. Lies and deception has no place from any party.

2 8

Anthony. R Wednesday, 11 December 2024 12:32 PM

If people voted for those who have a degree or a doctorate 99% in the previous regimes would have never seen the colour of the parliament for sure. It was for the man or woman who contested or for the party they voted. Dr Mervyn Silva,Dr Keheliya Rambukwella, Dr Prasanna Ranaweera are some doctorate holders of the past. To remember a few so called Doctors in the recent pass.So its like the pot calling the Kettle black.

6 1

sam Wednesday, 11 December 2024 12:32 PM

New politicians claim various qualifications. They should be checked by a competent authority.

0 7

K. Ranaweera Wednesday, 11 December 2024 01:01 PM

This is same as the former president Chandrika Bandaranayake's France Sorborn university degree.

4 9

Nikita Wednesday, 11 December 2024 02:18 PM

Don't talk bull stories. CBK is well and truly a graduate of Paris Sorbonne University. Current speaker has never attended a degree course in a university in Sri Lanka or abroad

4 5

Kikazaru Wednesday, 11 December 2024 01:47 PM

Having spent over two decades working in Japan as a Systems Engineer, many Japanese award degrees and doctorate as a diplomatic exercise. Do not be surprised when the speaker produces a certificate,

1 5

Soori Maripalan Thursday, 12 December 2024 12:23 AM

Do not follow RW the Pina! Go home and relax now with Pin Padi!

0 0

Citizen2023 Thursday, 12 December 2024 12:16 PM

As a speaker of the house, since he has not taken an oath and may be accepted to hold that position. However, the question arises how he was falsefully pretending to be holding a PhD and deceived his voters. Besides he still appears very nervous to carry out his duties andis to be guided by someone. A qualified person will pick up his tasks promptly. This adds to the question about his qualifications.

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