The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has initiated an inquiry into the use of the title “Dr.” before the name of Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara in official parliamentary records.
The investigation follows a formal complaint filed by Minister Nanayakkara, seeking clarity on how the honorary prefix was added to his name. CID officers visited Parliament yesterday afternoon and recorded statements from three parliamentary officials connected to the matter.
In the course of the inquiry, CID officers also seized several letters intended for inclusion on the Parliament’s website as part of their investigation.
Preliminary findings suggest that the inclusion of “Dr.” in front of Nanayakkara’s name originated from a letter submitted by the Leader of the House’s office. This was highlighted in a report prepared by senior officials from the Parliamentary Secretariat, which was submitted to parliamentary leadership for review.
The issue has sparked debate over the integrity of official records and the protocols followed in verifying titles attributed to members of Parliament. Authorities are expected to release further details as the investigation progresses.
