By Laksiri Fernando –
Dr. Laksiri Fernando
Vice Chancellor
University of Colombo
11 October 2015
Dear Vice Chancellor,
I wish to draw your attention to the conferring of honorary doctorates in 2009 to the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Gotabaya Rajapaksa by the University of Colombo. As you may know, I was the proposer of this motion at the Senate on the 29th of May 2009 which was carried unanimously and later approved by the Council of the University.
The premise for that proposal was that both the President and the Secretary of Defence had rendered an immense service to the country by bringing an end to the nearly three decades of war that bled the country and even disrupted the university education. The citations for the event would speak for the more specific reasons. However, the subsequent events as well as what have transpired later as their immediate past actions have shown that both have exceeded their powers vested in them by the people.
For example, President Rajapaksa ventured to exceed the traditions of democracy by lifting the two terms limit for the presidency and contesting for a third term in January this year. There are credible allegations of gross human rights violations at the last stages of the war under their command. In 2013, shooting in Weliweriya and at the Welikada prison also happened under their command. All these and other events have breached the confidence that the University of Colombo placed in them in conferring those doctorates.
Universities do make mistakes in conferring honorary doctorates and when they are realized the tradition is to revoke them. I apologise for whatever mistake I have made on this matter. If I may cite a similar example, in 1919, the University of Pennsylvania revoked the honorary degrees that they previously conferred to Germany’s Kaiser and its Ambassador to the US and Mexico. There have been more than ten revocations since then all over the world.
As you know, I am retired and as a result no longer a member of the Senate or the University of Colombo. Therefore, I nominate Dr Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri (or his nominee) who has publicly raised this issue with me to propose a revocation of these honorary degrees in the Senate. I do hope that you would allow a free discussion on this matter at the Senate and take a decision to revoke the said two honorary degrees.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Laksiri Fernando
Former Senior Professor in Political Science and Public Policy
Prof P T Jayawickramarajah / October 11, 2015
I like to congratulate Prof Laksiri Fernando for his admission that he was part of this unfortunate academic prostitution.
A doctorate is given to someone who has proved himself or herself to have contributed to new knowledge in a particular discipline or a segment of a discipline.In the same manner an honorary doctorate should be given to a person by the university after thorough analysis of the candidates credentials on the area of work by her/him in the particular field with adequate consideration to the candidates prior academic degrees and achievements. In my view if the Colombo University has given these doctorates as mentioned, they should have considered their contributions in terms of publications ? if any, or their undefined contributions through a particular action in political science or a war strategy hitherto not used in genuine warfare. If the Senate of the University of Colombo merely approved doctorates without evidence of such contributions they should be prepared to look at these doctorates and revoke their action.
In my view the new Vice Chancellor with demonstrated academic credentials should be able to clear the name of this premier institution, and help the UGC to formulate appropriate check lists for future awards of honorary doctorates.
Dr jayawick
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Kumar R. / October 12, 2015
Dr. Laksiri Fernando,
Degrees, including honorary degrees, are conferred based on past performance, rather than on future expectations. So, you are on rather thin grounds in your appeal for the revocation because you present as your basis for revocation the failings of GR & MR, failing after the degrees were conferred.
On the other hand you have also conceded that,
(a) you had reservations in making the proposal (“noticeable hesitation”),
(b) you felt “trapped” given the request was from no less than the VC,
(c) you did not have the full information to verify the credibility (you were unaware of that GR and MR were implicated in the what you knew was less-than-clean war), and
(d) your disapproval of your own proposal was evident from your non-participation in the celebrations that followed the degree ceremonies.
I think these would be more substantial, relevant, forthright, legitimate and compelling reasons for your appeal for revocation, rather than the newly concocted “post-degree performance” of MR & GR as being the reason for your appeal.
I hope you would take seriously the many responses in this chain, which despite supporting you on your revocation appeal, still faults you for your misguided, if not disingenuous reasoning. We hope you would re-draft your appeal more intellectually apt and forthright, for it to have any traction.
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Nirmala N / October 12, 2015
Kumar R.
My buddy. Well said.
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kali / October 12, 2015
Kumar R
***
I wish to say that you are 50& correct and 50% wrong.
Degrees, including honorary degrees, are conferred based on past performance, rather than on future expectations. So, you are on rather thin grounds in your appeal for the revocation because you present as your basis for revocation the failings of GR & MR, failing after the degrees were conferred.
1) 50 % Correct:
Degrees should be conferred on Past Performnace which should be rephrased to Past Achievements ( ie exams , thesis etc.)
2) 50% wrong. Continuing to hold your Doctorate is based on your PERFORMANCE. For example if you obtained your Doctorate by unsavoury methods and are struggling to put that to good use ( Like in the case of our Dr. ) then you should be stripped of it as otherwise it will cause immense damage.
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Kumar R. / October 12, 2015
Kali,
One suggestion – read the full comment (100%!), not just the first sentance. That way you will not make a fool of yourself!
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kali / October 12, 2015
Kumar R
*** At your request I have considered the following and give you my vedict at the end and leave it to you to work out who will turn out to be a fool.
The Following are your observations in response. Let us look at them.
Degrees, including honorary degrees, are conferred based on past performance, rather than on future expectations. So, you are on rather thin grounds in your appeal for the revocation because you present as your basis for revocation the failings of GR & MR, failing after the degrees were conferred.
*** In the words of Dr.Fernando the reason why he decided to propose was for the following.
“President and the Secretary of Defence had rendered an immense service to the country by bringing an end to the nearly three decades of war that bled the country and even disrupted the university education”
Meaning Past Performance ( Which I phrased Achievement)but in the real sesnse Performance in the context is reserved for the future. So by inference you expect a Doctor ( When you confer on him the Doctorate) to perform and that is why the both are two seperate componet but dependant.
The following amount to failings on both Dr.Fernando and MR and let me give you my resaons.
On the other hand you have also conceded that,
(a) you had reservations in making the proposal (“noticeable hesitation”),
*** In Criminal Law this amounts to RECKLESSNESS. Meaning you considered the risk but went ahead anyway. But Dr.Fernado already had a Doctorate but failed in his duty.
(
b) you felt “trapped” given the request was from no less than the VC,
*** These are what I call Mitigating circumstances and what he says amounts to saying he had no independant mind. No escape route totally except reduced SENTENCE.
(c) you did not have the full information to verify the credibility (you were unaware of that GR and MR were implicated in the what you knew was less-than-clean war), and
*** This again amounts to RECKLESSNESS.
(d) your disapproval of your own proposal was evident from your non-participation in the celebrations that followed the degree ceremonies.
*** My friend by then a CRIMINAL was elevated to a STATESMAN giving him the FREEDOM of the Country to do what he wanted which turned out to be with impunity.
I think these would be more substantial, relevant, forthright, legitimate and compelling reasons for your appeal for revocation, rather than the newly concocted “post-degree performance” of MR & GR as being the reason for your appeal.
*** No this is where you are TOTALLY and UTTERLY WRONG. In my view the post Performance is the only Grounds on which you can ask for revocation.
I hope you would take seriously the many responses in this chain, which despite supporting you on your revocation appeal, still faults you for your misguided, if not disingenuous reasoning. We hope you would re-draft your appeal more intellectually apt and forthright, for it to have any traction.
*** As I have already said in my response to the Dr the revocation is irrelevant. Much more important is stripping him of all the State of the Art Security which he enjoys but doesnt deserve. Punishment must meet the CRIME.
My vedict still you are 50% Correct 50% Wrong. No justification to overturn it.
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Kumar R. / October 12, 2015
Kali,
“Meaning Past Performance ( Which I phrased Achievement)but in the real sesnse Performance in the context is reserved for the future.”
Are you insane?
“In the real sesnse Performance in the context is reserved for the future.”
What stupidity? Symptomatic of a half-baked cookie.
If one passes the exam he gets the degree. If he loses his mind the day after the degree is conferred that will not invalidate the degree – the recognition with a degree has nothing to do with ex-post performance.
The expectation of a degree holder to perform superior to a non-degree holder is a different matter altogether, but a failure in that respect does not negate the degree already earned.
You are entitled to any verdict you like, half-baked or otherwise!
There is an old wisdom about the diffiulty in winning an argument against a fool. Let me rest my case.
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kali / October 12, 2015
Kumar R
You really are a NUT case and Sri Lanka is full of people like you and no wonder Sinhala Lanka is scraping paint.
Dont just rest your case. Please take early retirement before you cause more damge.
Good luck for the future.
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Kuma R. / October 12, 2015
Oh Kali,
What a defense?
Wasn’t I right on the dot on both counts: half-baked and arguing with a fool?!
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kali / October 12, 2015
Kumar R;
It is obvious you have never heard the words or understand the meaning of
Recklessness.
Mitigation.
Profesional Misconduct.
Achievement.
Performance.
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Kumar R. / October 12, 2015
Kali,
Don’t confuse professionl certification and licencing to practice with academic degree, granted on Honarary basis or otherwise.
Didn’t I say half-baked? Apprecaite your going the extra mile to reaffirm that!
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kali / October 12, 2015
Kumar R
I asked you many questions and it is you who have given half baked answer.
Every point you raised I answered word to word.
I konw you dont understand the meaning of many of the Words . It is you who is making a fool of yourself.
Let me repeat the words.
Confer
Performance.
Achievement.
Professional Misconduct.
Doctorate ( Some Genuine Some Phony like MRs)
PhD License to Teach or pass on the Knowledge,
MBBS Lincence to Practcice Medicine
LPC Legal License to Practice Law.
I can go on adding.
Every Profession has a Regulatory Authority.
Doctors , Teachers , Accountants , Engineers , Lawyers and in a Democracy Politicians are Governed by People Power.
You as an Individual is not Governed by anyone and that is why you are talking rubbish without any control.
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Kumar R. / October 12, 2015
Kali,
Still unable to figure out the difference between Academic degree and professional licencing and certification?
Well, if you pull your head out of the hole you seem to keep it buried in, may be you will see some light!
Or, perhaps some fools are destined to be nothing else!!
One possible malady is that you are patting yourself too hard on your back with your own “VERDICTS” – (ha, big word for a puny brain)
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kali / October 13, 2015
Kumar R:
You struggling to come to terms with the attack that your analysis was HALF BAKED ( 50 50). You thought about it long and hard and come back with the same Crap.
Let me tell you you havent grasped the issue and still mumbling about the difference between Academic degree and professional licencing and certification.
Professional licencing is given after an Academic Deegree.
eg Lawyers, Accountants, Chemists display their inside the Chemist etc.
Where you are having problem is unerstanding the concept of Discipline on the conduct of people who serve the public.
Teachers ( School Teachers , University Lecturers) are subject to regulation eventhough they are not given a License to Teach but are vetted.
Regulation of teacher misconduct
In cases of serious teacher misconduct where you have already been through all the local complaints procedures, you can make a referral to the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL), which is an executive agency of the Department for Education.
NCTL is responsible for regulating the teaching profession in England. We investigate cases of serious teacher misconduct and decide whether to refer a case to a professional conduct panel. The panel then investigates whether a prohibition order should be issued.
*** You were rattled when you were challenged about the following.
Degrees, including honorary degrees, are conferred based on past performance, rather than on future expectations. So, you are on rather thin grounds in your appeal for the revocation because you present as your basis for revocation the failings of GR & MR, failing after the degrees were conferred.
*** I questioned Dr.Fernando about the selection process ( meaning deciding to confer Honorary Degree) but I agree with him on the reasons for Revoking and the only grounds on which you can do that is based on his performance.
Although it is an Academic Honour MR is in Public life and was given a License to Govern and therefore he is subject to Discipline.
There are two issues which you are struggling to differentiate and therefore arrived at HALF BAKED analysis.
1) Honorary Degree: Which can only be revoked by those who conferred it on him based on his future performance although he didnt use it to kill but tranished the image.
2) License to Rule: It was given by the people and taken back bay the People.
Man let me tell if you had an Academic Degree ( Which I doubt and abhor) and started a Teaching Career and molested you children ( This is why they do a CRB check on people like you) which I am now begining to understand you will be stripped of your Job.
If you need any help to get off this Hook I will be happy to help. Otherwise I will assume case closed.
Next time think before you come up with Half Baked analysis. Use a distance learning course and get an ACADEMIC qualification without a LICENSE.
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Kumar R. / October 13, 2015
Kali,
You can, in your imbecilic ego-trip, go round-and-the-mulberry bush any number of times – merely increasing the length of your response each time, unable to focus on the fundamental issue, which only goes to highlight your muddled mind – an inevitable and unmistakable half-baked mind, indeed! And then proclaim VERDICTS and pat yourself on the back – as hard as you like!!
Here is the crux – look more intelligently at what you yourself have stated “ (if you) started a Teaching Career and molested your children …. you will be stripped of your Job.” Yes, you will be stripped of your job, BUT YOU WILL NOT BE STRIPPED OF YOUR DEGREE! NO REVOCATION OF THE DEGREE. Wonder if an imbecilic brain would have the capacity to figure even that out?
Kali, when you are stuck in a hole and want to get out, the very first step is to stop digging! One certainly can be imbecilic enough to not know that as you repeatedly prove. Your ego driven frustration due to the inability for any legitimate defense is vivid in your turning to imaginary personal attacks with you having absolutely no backing on any of your puerile comments – comments worthy of street dogs and gutter snipes! Notice that you don’t even have the capacity of original insults and have to borrow phrases from me (remember “half-baked”?) – speaks a lot about your education, doesn’t it?
Grow up! Actually, in principal, that is not different from my very first thought of you – half-baked!
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kali / October 14, 2015
Kumar R
It doesnt matter how hard you try it is still 50 50 Half Baked.
50 % Partially CORRECT. Degrees, including honorary degrees, are conferred based on past performance,( Not Performance but Achievement))=
50% WRONG rather than on future expectations.
So, you are on rather thin grounds in your appeal for the revocation because you present as your basis for revocation the failings of GR & MR, failing after the degrees were conferre.
Stop making a fool of yourself and concentrate on getting an Academic Qualification.
It is you who is on a Slippery Slope and your language is getting more and more Vulgar like your boss MR.
Too late to undo the damage. 50/50 Half Baked. Next time put it on a timer and dont take it out too early let it cook properly.
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Kumar R. / October 14, 2015
Kali,
Another meaningless, anemic, apology for a response – another asinine round of mulberry-bushing!
Read again “Yes, you will be stripped of your job, BUT YOU WILL NOT BE STRIPPED OF YOUR DEGREE! NO REVOCATION OF THE DEGREE.” Comprehende?! Nothing 50:50 about it. Wholesale NO REVOCATION of academic degree because of ex-post failings. YES for professional licenses; YES for professional certifications; YES, even for jobs, BUT NO for ACADEMIC DEGREES, Honorary or otherwise!
You can declare your moronic, self serving verdicts as much as your ego likes – and follow it up by patting your self hard enough on the back – hopefully hard enough that it may shock-induce some life into the brain cells wherever in the anatomy your creator chose to hide them!
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NC / October 14, 2015
Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe’s honorary degree was revoked by University of Edinburgh, University of Massachusetts Amherst and Michigan State University.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree
KR, you need to get some fresh air.
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Dr C P Thiagarajah / October 12, 2015
Please wait. Maitripala Sirisena and Ranil had categorically stated that they saved Gota and Mahinada from the electric chair. This government also had affirmed that they will safe the army from any punishment for war crimes. Then why revoke the rogue degree conferred by unprincipled Sinhala academic. Under MR everything remained Sinhala only. Even Gota went to the extent of stopping the national anthem sung in Tamil in Tamil areas. That is what majority of Sinhalese want. The UN sponsored inquiry will be another hypocrisy!
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Jude Fernando / October 12, 2015
One should commend Dr. Laksiri for publicly acknowledging the mistake and trying to rectify it. This is a rare and a necessary quality. This is not a weakness, but a strength and sign of integrity of an intellectual. I hope those academics now accussing Laksiri will also take the necessary steps to rectify their own contributions to “academic prostitution”,(to use one commentators term). How many of these academics have taken a stand against human rights abuses as Laksiri continues to do? At least for me some of these comments regarding Laksisir seem to be driven by motive nothing to do with his actions, but personal and political
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Eusense / October 12, 2015
Jayawickramarajah,
I am no fan of MR/GR but if you are a real professor you should be aware of what a honorary degree is. To be conferred a honorary Doctorate (PhD) one does not need to have “proved himself or herself to have contributed to new knowledge in a particular discipline or a segment of a discipline”. Honorary degrees are often conferred as a way of honoring a person’s contributions to a specific field or to a society in general.There are thousands of politicians, sportsmen, peace workers, social workers, authors, physicians, poets, singers and many other commoners who have been conferred such honorary doctorates in all parts of the world.
Going back to MR/GR’s doctorates, they can’t be revoked now as they were conferred for a reason which was true and trumpeted by this author himself, as they have “rendered an immense service to the country by bringing an end to the nearly three decades of war that bled the country and even disrupted the university education”.
Now to say otherwise and cite undemocratic activity, contesting for 3rd term, credible violations of human rights etc. are all unsubstantiated accusations until they are proven in a court of law. The University senate would be a laughing stock if it disregard legal outcomes of MR/GR investigations and just go by Laksiri Fernando’s letter. Also, most revocations have been based on fake credentials and information that have come to light after conferring.
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Native Vedda / October 14, 2015
Nuisance stupid I
“Honorary degrees are often conferred as a way of honoring a person’s contributions to a specific field or to a society in general”
In the case of MR/GR, they were honored for their contribution to mass killing of innocent people.
I wonder why Premadasa and his armed forces were not honored with multiple honorary doctorates? Its not too late you can still find universities in this thrice blessed land to posthumously honor the war criminals who had served this country well, of course 130,000 deaths between 1987 and 1990 and in 1971.
Gota should be honoured many times over as he was active during JVP’s second season of terrorist attacks on innocent Sinhalese.
Please consider honouring 30 countries which aided and abetted war criminals in this island, particularly the Delhi Hindians.
What is the difference between you and a knife?
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K.A Sumanasekera / October 12, 2015
Dr Lucksiri and his coterie must try to get rid of Bodhi Sira and his Mega Ministry if the Elite , Anglicans and the Vellalas want to rule.
Not the PhD’s …
Sira’s total Sinhala Buddhist vote was perhaps 5 % or less .
But he has the largest number of Sinhala Buddhists as ministers.
Can Ranil the PM implement his agenda with them sitting along side him.
Have you seen Batalanda PM using Parliamentary language at the Opposition on Prime Time TV?…
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Bystander / October 12, 2015
What about the Doctorate conferred on Kudu Mervyn Silva, the relation of Dutugamunu. Can someone please publish who proposed that and which University conferred that on him. These universities should be ashamed of themselves for stooping to such low levels.
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Sam Jayasinghe / October 12, 2015
But what I cant get is, why the very same Jounos refered Mervin as Dr. Silva knowing the truth as it is. ?
I think we dont have independent journos in the country.
If they are asked to do anything, they obsequiously did it. What was wrong with them during the day high days of Rajapakses.
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Jim softy / October 12, 2015
OBAMA was Rewarded with the NOBEL Peace Prize.
But, he was one of the Greatest mass killers in the recent human history, They attacked or started Arab SPring in many countries just to change the govts.
Don’t you think, you are taking some kind of REVENGE.
What is the REASON ?
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Mallaiyuran / October 12, 2015
If I am correct, so far no other senators who awarded the degree have commented on this.
Why only one Old King’s previous supporter is talking about that?
Are the other members of the senate and the VC still not aware that the Old King’s administration is over and time to start to support to the new king administration. They don’t read news? Foolish professors; if they don’t know politics how can they offer a honorary political degree for another one? This is an opportunity to join the caller and show their dedication to the New administration, irrelevant of whether the caller is a supporter of CC or not.
Came on guys! Where are you?
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Jim softy / October 12, 2015
Why only one Old King’s previous supporter is talking about that?
IT looks like Laksiri Fernando wanted something through political patronage. He did not get it.
Instead of getting angry with the University Administration he is angry with MR and GR.
Mallaiyuran explained every thing.
[Edited out]
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Mallaiyuran / October 12, 2015
Softy,
He is a communist. He will not ask anything under Ranil Mahata.
You see how the greedy Vasu being kicked, hit and beaten by Ranil Mahata because of his inability to quit politics unlike you after such a bad loss of your boss, the Old King? Professor is smart like you and he will stay at an arm length away from Ranil. If he wanted, he might have had a way to hang in the senate of the university that time. You know it better than me; you too worked together, didn’t you?(Did you forget his figure somewhere in the party halls sometime back?)
By the way what is new love between you and CT? Did China paidi them commission to let your comments go uncut? MMMMM…. Is China still active in that theater?
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Sincho / October 12, 2015
Today s environment, created by MY3 and Ranil, any simple simon can criticise the first citizen. But the days before the last Jan 8th, nothing like that was possible. Why is that ?
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Mallaiyuran / October 12, 2015
Sincho
You might have missed CT a lot. Where were you before the Jan 8th? Hiding somewhere by fear?
you are Sincha to New King?
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Echo / October 12, 2015
MR and GR were awarded honorary doctorates because of their successful planning and execution of last phase of war in 2009 against insurgents.
Now MR and GR along with leaders of the insurgents group are accused for war crimes and crimes against humanity for killing innocent civilians.
Criminal charges were reported by UN and all member states including Sri Lanka unanimously accepted the war crime report.
Now, UN provided an action plan to prosecute the war criminals and to safe guard the rights of ethnic minorities.
It is now time for all of us to act.
Dr LF has the courage to reveal to the public that he was the proposer of this motion to award honorary doctorates to MR and GR and now Dr LF is requesting to University of Colombo to revoke it.
Check out the situation of comedian Bill Cosby. Cosby received honorary doctorate from 20+ Universities. After his character was exposed by 50+ women, many universities started to rescind Bill Cosby’s honorary doctorate.
As the oldest institution for higher education in Sri Lanka, University of Colombo should set the record correct and rescind MR and GR’s honorary doctorates.
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BBS Rep / October 12, 2015
I think we must revoke the ability or the function of conferring doctorates from all Sri Lankan universities, once and for all.
If Mervyn Silva could be conferred a doctorate by a university you must admit that these institutions have sunk to the utmost depths of depravity. Any doctorate awarded by these errant institutions of so called higher education has no credibility in the eyes of the general citizen.
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Billa / October 12, 2015
Just forget about useless Sri Lankan Doctorates. Education in Lanka ended with Sinhala only and swabhasha political mockery. Badiuddin, IMRA Iriyagiolla, and all the other uneducated idiots of education ministers completely destroyed the once proud educational system and universities.
Let these cheap political buggers and the so called half baked academics confer cheap lankan Doctorates to even donkeys..who cares or who gives any damn respect to those Doctorates ?
Let them give it to donkeys, monkeys, MR, GR, Mervyns, Weeravansas, Gammanpillas..who cares. Don’t worry or loose your sleep over this Lankan adventures. Lankans cannot do anything better but destroy everything good we had.
Every beautiful and functioning institution has gone to dogs. Parliament, Judiciary, Education, rule of law…you name it. Everything…the estates, paddy cultivation, discipline, honesty, freedom…just forget it. It’s a sad and pathetic story.
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Jay Pathbey / October 12, 2015
Dear Readers,
In world ranking of Universities, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka ranks as the 2034th position in 2015 whereas the University of Pennsylvania in USA ranks 12th in 2015.
Dr Laksiri Fernando must be out of his mind to compare the two or to compare so called doctorates from Colombo University to a doctorate from the very prestigous University of Pennsylvania.
The doctorates given to those two jokers therefore have absolutely no value. The clowns who give doctorates in Sri Lanka are just that – CLOWNS. Remind me of the Frogs in a well. Mind you a university in Sri Lanka gave a doctorate to that idiot Mervyn Silva too a few years ago.
JP – USA
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Pygmalion / October 12, 2015
Prof:Laksiri Fernando.
Without any Malice;The Horse has bolted;No point in attempting to close the Stable doors:Its impossible to unscramble scrambled Eggs.
The University of Colombo has also celebrated the War Victory,in May 2019,like the marauding thugs on the streets of Colombo!
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PhD / October 12, 2015
“The premise for that proposal was that both the President and the Secretary of Defense had rendered an immense service to the country by bringing an end to the nearly three decades of war that bled the country and even disrupted the university education”
What is evident is that academics like Dr Laksiri Fernando thought at that time that only the two siblings of the influential political family MR and GR deserve honorary Doctorates and the army Commander Sarath Fonseka who was the main architect of the war victory does not deserve. This shows that Sri Lankan academics even at this leading University Colombo go behind politicians to get favours in return.
Appointing VCs by the executive presidents was started by JR by appointing the UNPer MR Karunasena Kodithuwakku who was an assistant lecturer at the time(80s) as the competent authority of Vidyodaya(Sri Jayewardenepura)University. Subsequently he was made the VC. The powers of executive presidency transmitted to the VCs as well and even the senior professors used to call this young man “SIR”. Then the VC appoints the heads of departments and the dean of a faculty will be one of the heads. What is happening since then is that the academic staff will go an extra mile to impress the VC by sucking up to become a head of department. Senior staff has to suck up to the political leaders to become a VC and the vicious cycle goes on and on. Promotions are given to obedient academics not to competent academics. This is Sri Lanka. We have to clean the system starting from the top, the present executive president.
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Sengodan. M / October 12, 2015
Congratulations to Dr. Laksiri Fernando for his present stand. It is only by revoking the honorary doctorates conferred the Colombo University could save its reputation!
Sengodan. M
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ibadun / October 12, 2015
Dr Laksiri Fernando,
You guys make funny the University and yourself and enjoy all and after now only you realizes it was a mistake? who want your apologies? do you think that by apologizing that you can correct everything? if such to be evoked first the university should keep you responsible and they should take legal action against you for damaging the reputation of the university if your case is true…
Second, No one has second word in ending the war to MR,GR and SF. the university had considered the ending of 30 years war and it is not the consideration the matter it was ended therefore you case is not valid here bcs it was given for ending the war not for the manner it was ended..
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Nawaz Dawood / October 12, 2015
It is time to examine the doctorate the writer is holding for uttering nonsense against the political leadership of former government. What about questioning the doctorate conferred on Mervin Silva and others. You are stupid to be politically inclined in making such opinions.
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Chaminda Samaradiwaka / October 12, 2015
The revoking will be a highly impact to the regenerate to university system and public confidence in our higher education sector.
Also proposed that Dr. Mervin Silva’s doctorate should be considered to revoke and that will also help to rebuild the confidence in our higher education system.
eventually revoking in graduation will allow the recipient to protect social and professional ethics while sustaining professional disciplinary.
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kali / October 12, 2015
Dr. Laksiri Fernando
I Propose To Revoke Doctorates From GR & MR
*** Dear Dr
This is a shocking revelation and I am saddened by your admission that it was you who proposed for the Honoraray Doctorate to be conferred on the CRIMINAL MR.
I gave you many accolades for what I though was Human Excellence. But your admission that you propsoed that ” both the President and the Secretary of Defence had rendered an immense service to the country by bringing an end to the nearly three decades of war that bled the country and even disrupted the university education.” has destroyed all that in a stroke.
I have few questions for you.
When you decided to propose were you aware of the following.
1) How many Innocent Tamils MR killed to give you the supposed Freedom you claim to enjoy.
2) Were you aware that when you finally achieved your freedom that was not only denied to Tamils but entrenched.
3) were you aware that ours was a struggle for Freedom from Sinhalese Tyrrany and LTTE was a creation of this very same brutality.
4) Were you aware in 2009 that MR exceeded his powers and was Guilty of Corruption.
If the answer to all of the above is YES than I am afraid you have Tamil Blood on your hand.
*** What matters to me is not the stripping of the Doctorate but the State of the Art Security given to a CRIMINAL by MS & RW which is a Professional MisConduct.
5) Universities do make mistakes in conferring honorary doctorates and when they are realized the tradition is to revoke them.
*** This was not a mistake but Pre Meditaed Act of Professional Mis Conduct.
*** I am a Human being and I feel very offended by some one I thought was a Role Model and I will not be commenting any more on your Articles. But please read my comment to Kumar R which has some relevance.
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Maya / October 12, 2015
Dr Laksiri Fernando
You have remained silent for the last six years in this matter.
If Dr N R Devasiri had not raised this matter you would have continued to remain the same. Didn’t your conscience prick you all these years ? I would not think so because the killings of innocent Tamil civilians by MR & GR are in your eyes equalled to ” an immense service to the country” . You proceeded to reward them for such a barbarious rule and in return what did you get? Please reveal it.
Thanks Dr Devasiri for letting the public know this matter.
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Crazyoldmansl / October 12, 2015
Of course my dear chappie, of course…tut, tut, tut…these bloody villagers never get the message…the doctorate was for killing Tamils…not for turning against us what old chap?…you should make that explicit in the legislative enactment…honorary doctorates only for those who kill Tamils…NOT for morons who kill Sinhalese and MOST certainly NOT for idiots who kill Sinhala BUDDHISTS!!! get it???
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Ram / October 12, 2015
If the honorarium was, as you say ” for killing Tamils “, then Mahaveer mass murderer Prabhakaran would have qualified way ahead in front. So has he been overlooked?.
If so it would be relatively easy to persuade the powers that be to award him one posthumously. Wigneswaran is more than likely to concur.
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w / October 12, 2015
Mervyn too will have to do something for calling MARA
“Dutugamunu Kumaraya.”
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Sumane / October 12, 2015
Oh give us a break, we have so many professors, doctors, professionals from the local universities writing books , paper articles and appearing on national TV shows.Our universities are all ranked in the 3000 range in world ranking except one with a 2000 plus ranking. Look at our country a total failed state cannot even run our own agriculture or transport facilities. Talks big, judges cannot run the legal system and now the UN is sending foreign monitors to oversee our legislation proceedings. Cannot simply run any institution without stealing and making millions of dollars losses.Most of the corrupt officials are from the local universities, who held top positions now trying to evade the law and people supporting them are also from the same background.How could a chief justice after retiring, now come and say I am sorry I did not take action, when he swindled tsunami funds and.. other crimes. It only proofs, that we are a wonky set of jokers showing a lion face, with only a lion painted on the national flag.
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Plato. / October 12, 2015
In the euphoria created by the Victory over the LTTE,in May 2009,even Academics appear to have allowed their senses to go astray.Even at that time,it was widely believed that there was a heavy civilian casualty.The University Senate,for this alone should have exercised circumspection.One reader has even gone to the extent of posting that even the academics were happy that the Tamils have had their just desserts!
Anyway,Prof:Laksiri has the intellectual honesty to regret and repent on this folly,quite unlike those on whom the Titles were bestowed.
I agree these titles should be stripped from the beneficiaries.
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Chandra / October 12, 2015
The Professor seems to be looking for a job! His way of admitting past wrong doings exposes his crookedness. Beware! whoever employs him.
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Mallaiyuran / October 12, 2015
“Beware! whoever employs him”
Need not to be. There are million jobs available in Lankawe depending on their proven ability. He can be too be favored for jobs.
Fonseka appeared to be qualified to the eyes of the Brother Prince because of the way he discharged his duties when he was at Jaffna. Now he is Field Marshal. Higher than his boss, the Brother Prince. It might take some time until any serious war-crime investigation to take place and he too had be stripped of that. There is always a more black pot than the kettle. In other words all Sinhala Intellectual are competent to contest with each other for Doctorate and Field Marshal designation on butchering human beings.
What I think is you might need some rest until we start to talk about the “Field Marshal” of Fonseke and the one who proposed it.
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CountryFirst / October 12, 2015
It is quite unbecoming of an academic to have initiated the award of an Honorary Doctorate on MR and GR and to now wish to have the degrees withdrawn. The reasons for the award being given have not changed….all that has happened is that MR lost and election and both he and GR have been accused of all sorts of financial misappropriations but nothing proven to date. Perhaps the award was recommended by LaksiriF in the expectation of a quid-pro-quo from MR???
And is Laksiri Fernando expecting to get rewarded by the current regime for now requesting that the award be withdrawn???
What a bizarre world we live in today! So-called academicians with few honest and ethical principles to talk of, but clearly with political and career motivations that result in swinging around from party to party as time goes on and regimes change!!
What a sorry state of affairs for the next generation to consider emulating!
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Maya / October 12, 2015
Plato
Regret and repent happened only after he was exposed by Dr Devasiri. Had Dr Devasiri remained silent our good friend would not have come clean. He is our Dr Jekyll and Hide. Do you disagree?
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Ram / October 12, 2015
Laksiri F’do is unwilling to bell the cat himself, or to initiate the process, but is trying to find a proxy to do it for him.
The Armed forces as a whole have been betrayed by M3S/RW jointly by accepting as a given that widespread human rights abuses and rape were committed based merely on the allegations of asylum seekers, who needed to find reasons true or false for their cause. Dissembling would come naturally in such circumstances.
MR and GR have been betrayed (and convicted by implication) by the boastful claim made since, that they’ve been saved by the mighty (Ava)Mangala Samaraweera, the Ikebana expert, from the electric chair. All he has done doltishly is commit national sepukku on our behalf in front of the whole world.
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CountryFirst / October 13, 2015
Agree with Maya that this sudden desire to confess must have been tweaked by Dr. Devasiri. The Vice-Chancellor has sprung into action and confessed, but is clearly unable to find a solution by himself…so expects a proxy to do the job…or is he under pressure to do it , OR ELSE????!
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Know All / October 12, 2015
It seems to me quite silly – and petty – to revoke the doctorates conferred on MR and GR. As far as we know, neither of them sought the honour. If Prof Laksiri now believes that they were in fact not fit and proper persons to be given the doctorates, neither MR nor GR is to blame. If anyone has blundered it is those like Prof Laksiri who were responsible for giving them the doctorates. I realise that MR and GR are no longer the ‘flavour of the month’; they have both been stripped of the power and authority they once commanded but neither has been found guilty of any criminal wrong-doing.
Revoking a doctorate is not some trivial thing. It will show the recipients in very poor light – for something not of their seeking. In my view, the doctorates should only be revoked if MR and GR are found guilty of criminal wrong doing. That has not happened. MR and GR do not deserve to be humiliated because that is what the revocation of the degrees will entail. So, I say ‘if you guys stuffed the thing up’ you should be held accountable and take the rap.
In the meantime, the university should re-visit the criteria for conferring honorary degrees and revise the existing conditions to ensure that a more rigorous test is employed before granting such degrees so that the sort of embarrassment now with us does not occur again.
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