Minister Karu Jayasuriya must be congratulated for raising the issue of yet another stupid venture that is fast taking root in this confused country of ours. I refer to the absolutely indiscriminate manner in which academic degrees are being conferred on all and sundry, bringing discredit to the conferring Institutions as well as to the recipients, who shamelessly  tag on to their names these unearned degrees and also the general public that tolerate these fakes without a whimper.We are going down the precipice not because of the hordes of bad and ignorant people but because,  the good have decided to remain silent on such outrageous exploits.It is the duty of the Government to protect the intellectual birthright of Academia and the degrees they confer.

Mr Phillips of Jaela asks the question in The Island of the 20th "Would not the dignity of such doctorates be eroded by castigating Instititions in general?" Of course,it would,and they very well deserve it. But more importantlywhat Minister Karu Jayasuriya is concerned with is that these unearned doctorates undermine and dilute the value of the degree of of one who earns it, after a candidate has proved his ability by original research in an academic discipline.Further, a candidate working on a doctorate must have a basic degree, be a graduate student in a University, submit a thesis on his or her chosen field of research, pursued under the direction of a Professor, and then, defend his thesis before a faculty team.I think it is the height of irresponsibility to throw away doctorates on persons who have done well in other avenues but who had even failed to enter the portal of a University.One wonders and becomes stupified at the silence of University staff as this rot gathers mometum.

I appeal on behalf of good sense and the authenticity of earned doctoral degrees to refrain from awarding academic degrees to businessmen, politicians, trade unionists and may be very soon, on beauty queens, hairdressers, cricketers, etc. Mr. Minister of Education, you should follow up with some concrete action. In this connection,may I raise the issue of a preponderance of bogus degrees claimed  by con men and women, some moving in the best social circles, but do not get caught, because the legislators have no time for such "small " matters .