Allegations have emerged regarding the academic qualifications of Urban Development and Housing Minister Anura Karunathilaka, with claims that he holds a Master’s degree, not a doctorate. The controversy arose after the Parliament website was updated to reflect his actual qualification as a Master’s degree holder.
However, Minister Karunathilaka, who is currently pursuing a doctorate at the University of Kelaniya, clarified that he has not yet completed his thesis. He plans to present it in the future, at which point he hopes to officially hold a doctorate.
The issue gained further attention when his name was listed as “Dr. Anura Karunathilaka” in the letter submitted by the National People’s Power Party (NPP) to the Election Commission, requesting the inclusion of national list MPs for the general election. This discrepancy has sparked debate over the accuracy of academic credentials in political representations.
