Namal Rajapaksa Hits Back in law degree row
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organizer and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa has urged the government to focus on fulfilling its long-overdue promises to the public instead of spreading falsehoods against opposition members.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Namal Rajapaksa said an article published on an obscure website had falsely questioned the validity of his law degree and criticized Sri Lanka Law College for admitting him, thereby casting doubt on the institution’s entire admission process.
He described the Media Minister’s decision to cite an unverified report from an unknown website as a sign of the government’s desperation to discredit him, mainly as the article emerged just days before the opposition’s major rally scheduled for Nov. 21.
“When the NPP was in opposition, they repeatedly raised allegations about my qualifications whenever it suited them. Now, even after coming to power, they are doing the same,” Namal said.
“This allegation has been circulating for the past ten years, yet they have failed to prove it. The matter is already under investigation. This is similar to their baseless claims about ‘Uganda money’—another allegation that reflects the NPP’s own failures.”
Namal warned that the government appears to be setting a dangerous precedent by using dubious “investigative journalists” to publish fabricated stories targeting opposition figures. He noted that the timing of the article — just days before the opposition’s November 21 rally — raises serious questions.
“It is clear the government is nervous. They know they have failed to deliver and are now unable to face the public, so they resort to these tactics ahead of our rally,” he added.
Meanwhile, SLPP Parliamentarian D.V. Chanaka challenged the government to direct the CID team currently in London, investigating allegations against former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, to also visit City, University of London, and independently verify Namal Rajapaksa’s academic qualifications.
Instead of relying on unverified articles published on obscure websites by questionable sources, the government should substantiate its claims with evidence, Chanaka said.
He further accused the government of betraying its fear of the opposition’s growing momentum ahead of the Nov. 21 rally.
He urged it to address more pressing issues — such as the controversial doctoral degrees allegedly held by some NPP parliamentarians and the unfulfilled pledges made to the public a year ago.