• Japanese Uni. denies student reg., claims Thalatha
• Spkr.’s ‘Dr.’ title removed from P’ment website 
• Govt. awaits Spkr.’s personal statement on same and to act thereafter

The University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) advised those questioning the veracity of the educational qualifications of certain Parliamentarians to ascertain such by contacting the original degree body or conferring institution.  

This, amidst allegations of academic fraud and related corruption leveled against some members of Parliament, over the last week. 

It follows allegations of the Speaker of the Parliament Ashoka Ranwala’s academic qualifications being called into question. The Parliament website removed the Speaker's pre-fixed title of Doctor; however, the Parliamentary Secretary General Kushani Rohanadeera, when contacted by The Daily Morning to ascertain the veracity of the said removal, declined to comment. 

Meanwhile, the UGC stated that if an individual’s academic qualifications need to be verified, one should verify with the awarding body. "If a person wishes to verify if someone has a certain academic qualification, we advise them to contact the university that has supposedly provided the qualification," UGC Chairperson, Prof. Kapila Seneviratne told The Daily Morning yesterday (10). 

FUTA also concurred with Seneviratne's advice, adding however that the FUTA will not take action against Ranwala. "This is his personal problem and we will not get involved," FUTA Media Spokesperson, senior lecturer Charudaththe Illangasinghe told The Daily Morning. "However, we advise people to verify with the awarding bodies."

The main Parliamentary Opposition Party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) stated that if allegations against the Speaker are proven, they will take the matter up with the Ethics and Privileges Committee in the Parliament. "We will not do anything at present as these allegations against him are not proven," SJB Parliamentarian Hector Appuhamy told The Daily Morning. "However, if these are proven, then we will take it up and take action."

United National Party member former MP Thalatha Athukorala addressing a press conference yesterday charged that she has seen a communique sent by a university in Japan, from which the Speaker claims to have graduated from, which states that the institution has no record of a student of that name. 

Currently, there is no requirement for legislators to possess academic qualifications.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa told the weekly Cabinet press briefing yesterday that Ranwala will soon make a ‘responsible’ statement regarding the recent controversies related to his ‘doctorate’. Responding to a question raised by the media, Dr. Jayatissa expressed that certain parties had even questioned his own degree as well. Furthermore, he mentioned that the Government will arrive at a decision regarding the matter after the Speaker reports on his qualifications to the relevant authorities. “I will make a statement on what decision the Government will take if the claims are true as well as if the claims are false,” he added.