The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Madam Presiding Member, thank you.

¶ 02 Hon. Rohana Bandara proposes creating a mechanism to prevent misuse of “Doctor” and “Professor” titles. Many institutions confer such titles—often inviting and awarding them without any qualification or examination—sometimes for sums of Rs. 100,000, 200,000, 300,000 or 500,000. Thus a wealthy businessman may become “Doctor” overnight, while those who truly studied and passed exams are equated by the same title. Even politicians have been so conferred. This must stop.

¶ 03 Separately, there is now a judicial appointments issue. With the retirement of Justice Priyantha Fernando, there will be five Supreme Court vacancies—some pending for over six months—and three in the Court of Appeal following recent retirements. Why are these not filled? The Constitutional Council awaits required regulations; successive governments have failed to bring them. Your Government has been in office for a year and a half—please table the needed regulations so the Council can function smoothly. Do not withhold them to act arbitrarily. With that appeal, I conclude. Thank you.