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

• Says NPP has deceived voters, questions other NPPers’ qualifications

​By Yohan Perera   
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.