News
Nalinda raises doubts about Namal’s law degree; SLPP accuses govt. of mudslinging
Chief Government Whip and Health and Mass Media Minister, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, yesterday (19) called on SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa to clarify concerns raised in the media over the authenticity of the latter’s law qualifications.
Dr. Jayatissa told Parliament that several news websites and social media outlets had questioned the process through which Rajapaksa gained admission to the Sri Lanka Law College (SLLC), and said it was time for the MP to explain the matter to the House.
According to the Minister, Rajapaksa entered the SLLC by submitting a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) degree certificate, issued by the City University London, on September 15, 2009.
He said the first concern raised by the media related to the authenticity of the certificate.
The University of Sri Jayewardenepura had reportedly rejected the degree when Rajapaksa sought admission to a master’s degree programme, claiming the signature of the Vice Chancellor on the certificate was invalid as the official had resigned from the post 54 days earlier, on July 23, 2009.
The second issue concerns whether City University London was a recognised institution by the SLLC at the time Rajapaksa gained admission. The SLLC formally recognised the university on 15 October, 2009. However, Rajapaksa had applied to the SLLC on 25 September, and the application had been accepted on the same day. That was three weeks before the institution was officially recognised.
The third issue, Dr. Jayatissa said, relates to whether the degree submitted met the eligibility criteria for entry to the SLLC. Rajapaksa’s certificate shows he obtained a Bachelor of Laws with Honours, Class III. Media reports have noted that a Class III degree does not qualify an individual for admission to the Bar in the United Kingdom, raising questions over whether such a qualification should be accepted for entry to the SLLC.
“I am tabling all these documents and expect MP Rajapaksa to clarify the concerns regarding the authenticity of his degree,” Dr. Jayatissa told Parliament, adding that doing so would help protect the dignity of the House.
Responding, SLPP Hambantota District MP D. V. Chanaka accused critics of engaging in long-running political mudslinging.
“For 21 years they have been attacking this young man relentlessly. Now, they’ve started a fresh round. They raised these allegations before too, even filed a case. What Minister Jayatissa is saying is simple—someone is creating fake websites to sling mud,” he said. “Report it to the CID if necessary. MP Namal Rajapaksa has already issued a statement. But no complaint has been filed in court to date. When the case fails, they start mudslinging again. That’s not right.”
By Saman Indrajith
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated in a high-level dialogue titled “Tourism as Soft Power and Diplomatic Capital” held at the Euronews Hub, Piz Buin Davos, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on January 20.
The session explored how tourism functions as a strategic instrument of diplomacy by strengthening international trust, cultural exchange, and regional cooperation through mobility and people-to-people engagement. The Prime Minister shared the panel with Mr. Kuban Omiraliyev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States and Mr. Meshari Alnahar – CEO Aseer Investment Company, Saudi Arabia.
Addressing global trends, the Prime Minister emphasized that Sri Lanka is an example of hope, recovery and resilience in a world of conflict demonstrating how tourism can play a critical role in a changing global environment particularly amid climate shocks, geopolitical instability, and uneven economic recovery. She noted that tourism is not only an economic sector but also a vital diplomatic bridge that supports livelihoods, builds relationships and connects people.
Drawing on Sri Lanka’s recent experience, she highlighted the country’s strong tourism recovery despite multiple crises, including the impact of Cyclone Ditwah. Transparent crisis management and strategic engagement with international partners helped sustain visitor confidence, resulting in record tourist arrivals even in challenging circumstances.
The Prime Minister also underscored the importance of green and climate friendly tourism infrastructure and underlined that Sri Lanka welcomes long term investment in tourism. She pointed out that tourism supports millions of jobs worldwide and that inclusive policies are essential to ensure fair opportunities, particularly for women and vulnerable communities.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
During an operation conducted in the dark hours of 20 Jan 26, the Sri Lanka Navy seized two (02) Indian fishing boats and apprehended seven (07) Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, off Kovilan, Jaffna.
The seized boats and Indian fishermen was to be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Myliddy, Jaffna for onward legal proceedings.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated in a series of high-level bilateral meetings on January 20 on the sidelines of the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.
The Prime Minister attended a productive bilateral meeting with Mr. Jozef Síkela, European Commissioner for International Partnerships. During the discussion, both sides focused on strengthening Sri Lanka–EU cooperation and advancing mutual interests.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya also met with Mr. Masato Kanda, President and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), at the WEF Congress Centre. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss ongoing engagement and future collaboration between Sri Lanka and the ADB.
In addition, the Prime Minister held discussions with Mr. Hassan El Houry, Chairman of Menzies Aviation, where opportunities for collaboration in aviation services and connectivity were explored.
The Prime Minister also participated in a high-level dialogue at the Global Tourism Forum held at the Euronews Hub, Piz Buin, Davos, as part of the World Economic Forum engagements.
Dr. Anil Jayantha, Minister of Labour, and the Deputy Minister of Finance were also present at these meetings.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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