Acting Registrar raps Fonseka

The University of Colombo in a statement has urged General Sarath Fonseka to be cautious in making comments on the conferment of honorary degrees by the University of Colombo.

Acting Registrar of the University of Colombo D. P. R. J. Nanayakkara in a statement on the comments made by Sarath Fonseka in a news item that appeared in an English newspaper said:The University of Colombo was much perturbed to note the following "He, (General Sarath Fonseka) charged that the Service Chiefs who were in office during the ultimate stages of war and some ruling party politicos were offered honorary awards by the University of Colombo, but the Government approved these honours only for the politicians" in a news item that appeared in an English daily December 9 under the "General calls Ministers: Play a role in reforming the country".

We hereby give the accurate version for information of the public.

The Council of the University of Colombo at its 419th meeting held on 2nd June 2009 approved the unanimous recommendation of the Senate at its 322nd meeting held on 29th May 2009 for the conferment of the Degree of Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) on His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) on Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order in recognition of their yeoman service to the nation in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country.

Although the Council on 02.06.2009 unanimously decided to confer these degrees, the President and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa accepted the honour only in September 2009 after much persuasion by various organizations and well, wishers.

The University would like to state further that the University of Colombo as an autonomous institution does not require any approval from the Government for the conferment of Honorary Degrees.

We would very much appreciate General Sarath Fonseka to verify the correctness of the facts before making such statements which are detrimental to the University.