The controversy surrounding doctorate titles took a new turn when Shemal Fernando, the current Director General attached to the Ministry of Sports in Sri Lanka, opted to exclude the prefix “Dr.” in his signed letter addressed to stakeholders regarding the suspension of Sri Lanka Rugby’s Annual General Meeting and Election, originally scheduled for January 21, 2025.
The issue of officials falsely claiming doctorate titles gained significant attention when the former Speaker of Parliament, Ashoka Ranawala, was exposed for using the prefix “Dr.” before his name during his campaign for the General Elections. Following widespread criticism and public outcry over the matter, Ranawala eventually resigned from his position as Speaker of Parliament, marking a dramatic turn in the controversy.
Hot on the heels of the Ashoka Ranawala controversy is the case of Shemal Fernando, the current Director General of Sports Development. Former Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS) Treasurer, Upulwan Serasinghe, has escalated the matter by filing a formal request under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Serasinghe is seeking official verification of Fernando’s purported doctorate and other titles, adding further fuel to the ongoing debate surrounding the misuse of academic credentials by public officials.
The reason behind Shemal Fernando’s decision to omit the prefix “Dr.” in his signed document remains unclear, with some suggesting that he may have been directed to remove it by higher authorities.
