Sri Lanka's Speaker of Parliament, Asoka Ranwala, has tendered his resignation amidst mounting controversy regarding the authenticity of his academic qualifications. The resignation follows allegations that Ranwala misled the public and government officials by claiming to possess a doctorate from Japan's Waseda University and a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Moratuwa, which have now been called into question.
In a statement, Ranwala clarified that while he had not intentionally made any false claims, he was unable to provide documentation substantiating his academic credentials. He explained that he had obtained his doctorate from research institutes affiliated with Waseda University but could not present the required records.
The controversy gained momentum when opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) initiated a no-confidence motion against Ranwala this week. The motion accuses the Speaker of misleading the public by repeatedly claiming to hold a doctorate and a BSc in Chemical Engineering. According to the SJB, Ranwala used the title "Dr." during his election campaigns, in official parliamentary communications, and throughout his tenure as Speaker. The motion further alleges that Ranwala remained silent when questioned about the legitimacy of his claims, violating the Parliamentary Code of Conduct and eroding public trust in the government.
The controversy has deeper implications for the National People's Power (NPP), the political party to which Ranwala belongs. As the Speaker of Parliament, Ranwala holds a role as the head of the Constitutional Council, which oversees key government appointments. His credibility is crucial for maintaining the integrity of Parliament. The NPP, which came to power promising a new political culture focused on transparency and accountability, now faces significant scrutiny following the allegations against Ranwala.
University of Colombo lecturer Nirmal Dewasiri referred to the issue as a "litmus test" for the NPP government. Dewasiri emphasised that if Ranwala did indeed use false academic credentials during his campaign, it would directly contradict the NPP's promise to foster a decent and ethical political culture. Compounding the situation, at least three other NPP parliamentarians are also facing allegations of falsifying their academic qualifications, further damaging the party's reputation.
Ranwala's academic qualifications were previously listed on his LinkedIn profile and the Parliament’s official website, where he was introduced as holding a PhD in biochemistry from Waseda University and a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Moratuwa. However, after public scrutiny and growing doubts about the veracity of these claims, his profile was updated, removing the title “Dr.” and listing him simply as “Asoka Ranwala MP.” Fact-checking organization FactCrescendo also made inquiries, which led to Ranwala admitting that he does not hold a degree from the University of Moratuwa, despite his earlier claims.
The situation is particularly significant given Ranwala’s role in leading protests against Sri Lanka's first private medical university, SAITM, between 2015 and 2017. Ranwala and other activists had labelled the institution as a "fake degree-awarding institute," and their efforts ultimately contributed to the closure of SAITM.