Controversy swirls further high on Speaker’s ‘Dr’ title

Parliament website removes the title ‘Dr.’ from the Speaker’s profile

Speaker to make statement on his Doctorate soon

By Ajith Siriwardana and Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

Amid controversy over Speaker Dr. Ashoka Ranwala’s Doctorate, Cabinet spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said yesterday the Speaker will make a clear statement on his qualifications shortly.   

He told the weekly briefing to announce Cabinet decisions that action to be taken on the matter will be decided after the Speaker announced his qualifications.  
Responding to a question on what action would be taken against the Speaker if the reports on his Doctorate are true, the Minister said it will be informed after the Speaker’s statement.   
“Let us consider it after the Speaker makes a statement on his qualifications. I will tell you the decision to be taken if the reports are true and the decision to be taken if the reports are false. There is an issue if the reports are false as well,” he said.   
Various reports were circulated on social media over the Doctorate of Speaker Ashoka Ranwala and former chairman of the Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya had also challenged the Speaker to prove his Degree if he had claimed to have one.   

When Ranwala was appointed Speaker, Parliament’s media release described him as holding a Doctorate in Biochemistry from Waseda University, Japan, in addition to a Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Moratuwa. He was also introduced as a member of the NPP’s National Executive Committee and as having previously served in local government roles.   
Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Parliament website has removed the title ‘Dr.’ from the Speaker’s profile.   
Previously listed as “Dr. Ashoka Ranwala,” his name now appears as “Asoka Ranwala MP,” raising further doubts about the legitimacy of his Doctorate.   It has been reported that the webpage was updated within the last 24 hours to remove the title ‘Dr.’ from the Speaker’s profile.   
However, archived versions and Google search results still display the title, while the current profile no longer includes it.