Controversy over awarding of doctorates Defence Secy. inquires into accusations

DIG Ajith Rohana receiving his title from Prof. Chandima Wijegunawardhana as Rohan Pallewatta looks on

Institution concerned denies allegations

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Amidst a controversy over PhDs being awarded by British-American University, Florida to selected persons in Sri Lanka, the Defence Ministry has raised the issue with the Ceylon College of Applied Studies (CCAS), which organised the event at the BMICH, recently.

 The Island

learns that Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. Kamal Gunaratne has sought an explanation as regards the special graduation ceremony conducted under the auspices of Wimalaweera Dissanayake, State Minister of Wildlife Conservation Protection Programmes, including Electric Fence and Ditch Construction and Re-Forestation and Wildlife Resources Development.

 Executive Chairman of Lanka Harness Company (Pvt) Rohan Pallewatta, who delivered the keynote address at the event yesterday (7) told The Island that he attended the event on an invitation from the organizers.

 Pallewatta, who contested the 2019 presidential election as well as the 2020 general election emphasised that as an invitee he couldn’t be expected to inquire into the background of the organisers of an event. Responding to another query, Pallewatta said that he had responded to criticism as he felt it was unjustified.

 Asked whether CCAS had received money from any of those recipients of honorary doctorates in return for the titles, a spokesperson answered in the negative. There had been approximately 500 applications from prospective recipients representing various fields, the representative said, adding that of them 250 were shortlisted by CCAS Chairman Sainulabdeen Najimudeen and five lecturers. Subsequently, 50 persons had been chosen by the Chancellor of the British American University, Prof. Muhammad Omalaja and three Professors from the British American University, Florida USA.

 The recipients included Senior DIG Roshan Fernando, DIG Ajith Rohana, DIG Champika Siriwardhana, DIG Sanjeewa Medawaththa, human rights activist Muheed Jiran, Prisons Commissioner (Administration) Chandana Ekanayaka, Youth Director Isuru Bandara. Police headquarters removed DIG Medawaththa from the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) following the exposure group of officers and men attached to the elite unit dealing in heroin and with crime syndicates under his nose.

 Titles were received from Prof. Chandima Wijegunawardhana, who was on the UNP Colombo District list at the recently concluded general election, Dr. Rohan Pallewatta and Prof. Bashir Riskan and State Minister Wimalaweera Dissanayaka.

The Island

asked two of those who had received honorary doctorates whether the August 23 event involved any financial transaction. They said theirs were honorary doctorates and not PhDs, contrary to claims being made in some quarters.

The special graduation ceremony took place after the annual graduation ceremony of various degree holders of a couple of other universities, in addition to the CCAS affiliated to the British -American University, Florida, the spokesperson said. Responding to another query, the spokesperson said that those who had received various titles were all students.

 Sources told The Island that the government should inquire into various institutions awarding degrees to locals. They alleged that awarding unearned degrees/doctorates to well-known persons could be part of their strategy to entice new students.  

Hassan Mubarak, a recipient of an MBA from the University of Colombo, said he and his colleagues had worked hard to earn their degrees but there were some institutions which gave away MBAs and doctorates.

 Mubarak, who has inquired into operations undertaken by various educational institutes alleged that another controversial graduation ceremony where questionable doctorates was to be offered was scheduled to take place at the BMICH in a few weeks.

 CCAS responded to a spate of questions raised by The Island regarding its activities in Sri Lanka and said it was open for any inquiry. Anyone suspicious of the special graduation ceremony could inquire from those law enforcement officers et al whether the CCAS sought special favours or money for those honorary titles.