By Shamindra Ferdinando

The All Ceylon Union of Muslim League Youth Fronts (ACUMLYF) has requested K. Navas Kani, MP, of the Indian Union of Muslim League (IUML) to inquire into the high profile case of four Sri Lankans taken into custody in Gujarat on terrorism charges during the Indian general elections in May-June this year.

Identifying the four persons taken into custody on May 19 at the Ahmedabad airport as Mohammad Nusrat, Mohammad Nafran, Mohammad Rashdeen and Mohammad Faris, the grouping’s President Sham Nawaz told The Island that they were seriously concerned about the police here asking the families of the detained whether their loved ones returned home.

The newly-elected National People’s Power (NPP) should take up this issue with India at the highest level, Nawaz emphasised the responsibility on the part of India to explain the current status of the investigation as the previous Sri Lankan government, in no uncertain terms, cleared all four of any connection with ISIS, or connected with religious extremism.

Nawaz said that he also brought the matter to the notice of Prof. K. M. Cader Mohideen, President, IUML, and was confident that an effort would be made to ascertain the truth. The arrests were made by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad.

Asked whether ACUMLYF received anticipated attention from the government here, Nawaz said that they were given an opportunity to meet the then State Foreign Minister Tharaka Balasuriya in the first week of June. “In spite of assurances given, the Foreign Ministry never bothered at least to get back to us. We are quite confident that they were on business visits. And there is absolutely no basis for accusations that they were involved in religious extremism,” Nawaz said.

Responding to another query, Nawaz said that perhaps the Gujarat arrests may not receive the attention during formal talks between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Premier Narendra Modi this week but it shouldn’t be allowed to be forgotten under any circumstances.

“They must be either charged or released,” Nawaz said, adding that the Muslim community here shouldn’t be allowed to be targeted and humiliated over their alleged allegiance to ISIS, particularly in the wake of the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage.

Nawaz pointed out that some media reports, soon after the arrests, suggested that they arrived in India to cause mayhem during the general election.

Nawaz emphasized that their effort shouldn’t be misinterpreted as an attempt to intervene on behalf of a group dubbed as terrorists.

Sri Lanka should represent the interests of the detained persons in terms of the Vienna Convention on consular assistance.

Pointing out the conflicting claims regarding the arrests, Nawaz asked whether India gave Sri Lankan authorities access to the suspects

Asked whether the families of the detained, or some other interested party sought their intervention, or he knew them personally, Nawaz emphasized that ACUMLYE stepped-in on its own.

Nawaz said that the delegation stressed the need for an independent local investigation as many raised doubts over the continuing allegations regarding the ISIS operations here.

Such fears impacted the economy in many ways, Nawaz said, reiterating the responsibility on the part of the government to conduct no holds barred investigation into the allegations made by Indian authorities.

Contrary to repeated declarations in Indian media that the four arrested at the Sardar Vallabhai Patel airport, in Ahmedabad, had been linked to ISIS and coordinated by a Pakistani handler, investigations conducted by Sri Lankan authorities contradicted the Indian findings, Nawaz said.

Nawaz said that the recently conducted presidential and general elections caused further delays. Unfortunately, the new government, too, seemed slow on this matter hence our decision to seek the assistance of the IMUL to take up the issue at hand.

The Indian media quoted Gujarat Director General of Police Vikas Sahay as having said that the suspects told investigators that they had been earlier associated with the banned Sri Lankan radical militant outfit, National Thowheeth Jamaath (NJT), and joined IS after getting in touch with Pakistani handler Abu Bakr Al Bagdadi.

The NTJ has been blamed for the Easter Sunday attacks that claimed the lives of nearly 270, including 11 Indians. Following the arrests made by Gujarat authorities, several persons were arrested here over their alleged involvement with the four. Nawaz said that the government should set the record straight regarding the alleged Gujarat plot without further delay.

SLNS Sayura left the Chinese managed Hambantota International Port on 12 Dec. to participate in the Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise (SLINEX), set to take place in Visakhapatnam, India, from 17th to 20th December 2024.

This significant bilateral annual exercise aims to strengthen interoperability, foster mutual understanding, and share best practices to enhance maritime cooperation between the Indian and Sri Lanka navies, Navy Headquarters said.

Speaker Ranwala’s resignation:

Former MP Dr. Nalaka Godahewa said that the recent resignation of Speaker ‘Dr’ Asoka Ranwala, following public outcry over his academic qualifications, underscored the need to identify bogus claims.In recent years, a disturbing trend has emerged here with an increasing number of individuals claiming prestigious academic titles, such as ‘Doctor’ or ‘Professor’ without possessing the necessary qualifications to back them up.

The ex-Minister and State Minister said that just because someone introduced him or her as a ‘Doctor’ or ‘Professor’ that did not necessarily mean he or she had earned those titles through legitimate means.

Due to the absence of proper verification methods, many people had started using these titles overnight, with little to no understanding of the rigorous academic processes required to truly achieve them, Dr. Godahewa said, suggesting that the public should explore the proper processes behind earning a doctorate and a professorship so that you can easily verify whether someone is genuinely qualified or not.

THE PROCESS OF EARNING A DOCTORATE

The first step in understanding how to spot bogus qualifications is to recognize what it truly takes to earn a doctorate. While the title “Doctor” may seem simple, obtaining this level of education requires years of hard work, dedication, and a series of academic achievements. Here’s a breakdown of the steps involved:

1. Bachelor’s Degree: The journey to a doctorate typically begins with a bachelor’s degree in a related field. This usually takes 3–4 years of study and is the foundational step in academic education.

2. Master’s Degree (Optional): Some fields, such as engineering, science, or the humanities, may require candidates to complete a master’s degree before they can even apply for a doctoral programme. This adds another 1–2 years of study.

3. Doctoral Programme: Once you’ve completed your bachelor’s (and perhaps master’s) degree, you apply to a university offering a doctoral programme. Acceptance into such programs is highly competitive, and once admitted, students typically engage in advanced coursework and original research.

4. Research and Dissertation: The core of a doctoral programme is conducting original research in your field. This research must contribute new knowledge or insights. The culmination of this work is a dissertation or thesis, which must be rigorously written and submitted for review.

5. Dissertation on Defence: After completing the dissertation, candidates must defend their research in front of a panel of experts. This is a crucial step where candidates are questioned on the methodology, findings, and significance of their work.

6. Awarding the Doctorate: If the dissertation is accepted and successfully defended, the candidate is awarded a doctorate—typically a Ph.D., but there are other types, such as Doctor of Science, Doctor of Education, etc. This title is a recognition of the candidate’s expertise and contribution to their field.

THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A PROFESSOR:

While being a Doctor is an impressive achievement in itself, becoming a Professor involves a different set of qualifications and experience. The path to professorship goes beyond earning a doctorate—it requires a combination of teaching, research, and academic leadership. Here’s a look at what it typically takes:

1. Educational Requirements: Like a Doctorate, becoming a Professor usually requires a Ph.D. or its equivalent in a relevant field. In some cases, individuals may become professors without a Ph.D., but this is rare and often depends on the field and level of expertise.

2. Research and Publications: Professors are expected to contribute to the academic community not only by teaching but also by conducting research. This often involves publishing articles, books, or research papers in peer-reviewed journals or other academic platforms.

3. Post-doctoral Experience: After earning a Ph.D., many aspiring professors engage post-doctoral research positions, commonly known as “postdocs.” This allows them to gain deeper expertise and further contribute to their field while building their academic reputation.

4. Teaching Experience: Teaching experience is crucial for becoming a professor. This may begin with roles as a teaching assistant during a Ph.D. programme and evolve into adjunct positions before securing a full time faculty position.

5. Applying for Faculty Positions: Once candidates have gained sufficient qualifications and experience, they can apply for professorships at universities. This process is highly competitive and often involves a rigorous selection procedure, with candidates needing to demonstrate both teaching ability and research expertise.

6. Promotion to Professor: Once hired, professors usually start at the rank of Assistant Professor and can be promoted to Associate Professor and then Full Professor based on their contributions to teaching, research, and the academic community.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOCTOR AND A PROFESSOR:

It’s important to understand that being a Doctor and being a Professor are not the same thing. While both are highly respected academic titles, they represent different achievements and career paths.

A Doctor is someone who has completed a Ph.D. or similar doctoral degree, signifying deep expertise in a particular field. This title doesn’t necessarily mean the person is involved in teaching at a university. Many Doctors work in research, industry, healthcare, or other professional roles outside academia.

On the other hand, becoming a Professor requires more than just having a doctoral degree. It involves years of teaching, research, and often administrative contributions to the academic community. A Professor is not only an expert in their field but also a mentor and educator to the next generation of students.

HOW TO VERIFY A GENUINE DOCTOR OR PROFESSOR:

Given the rise of people falsely claiming academic titles, it is important to know how to verify someone’s credentials.

If someone claims to be a Doctor, you can ask:

* From which university did you receive your Ph.D.?

* Where is your Ph.D. officially recorded? (Check with the university or academic bodies.)

* What is the title of your thesis, and where can it be accessed for reference or verification?

Similarly, if someone claims to be a Professor, ask:

* Which academic institution have you taught at?

* For how many years have you taught there, and at what levels?

* What research papers or academic articles have you published? (Check academic databases like Google Scholar or Scopus.)

These simple questions can help public to verify whether someone truly holds these prestigious titles or if they are merely abusing them to gain undue credibility.