Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has categorically denied allegations of misrepresentation regarding his educational qualifications, asserting that he has always presented accurate information in his curriculum vitae. Addressing Parliament today, Premadasa declared that he has never claimed credentials he did not earn, underscoring his commitment to transparency. He also emphasized his willingness to verify his qualifications through the relevant institutions and took full responsibility for the information he has provided. Furthermore, he vowed to resign from his position as Member of Parliament, Leader of the Opposition, and politics altogether if proven otherwise.
Premadasa made these remarks while presenting a series of documents and certificates to validate his academic achievements. In his speech, he detailed his educational journey, starting from his pre-school days at St. Bridget’s Convent, followed by primary education at St. Thomas’ College and secondary education at Royal College up to Grade 9. He clarified that he did not sit for the local Ordinary Level (O/L) examinations in Sri Lanka, having withdrawn from the system, and provided the necessary certificates to substantiate this.
He then attended Mill Hill College in the United Kingdom, where he sat for the O/L examinations in 1983 and 1984. Addressing allegations of failure, Premadasa refuted claims of obtaining a “W9” grade, pointing out that such a grade did not exist at the time. He asserted that his results included A and B grades, which can be verified through his official certificates.
Premadasa also highlighted his extracurricular achievements at Mill Hill College, including his roles as a house prefect in 1984, school prefect in 1985, and secretary of the cricket team in 1985. He captained the cricket team in 1986 and earned recognition as an outstanding student. He further noted that he excelled in the Advanced Level (A/L) examinations in 1986, obtaining two Bs and a C in Political Science, Business Studies, and a third subject, which qualified him for admission to the University of London, where he completed his degree in 1991.
He went on to share evidence of his academic journey at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), including letters of recommendation and degree certificates. Additionally, he revealed that he pursued a Master’s degree in Public Management at the University of Maryland, College Park, in the United States. During his studies, he excelled in 8 subjects between 1991 and 1992, achieving A grades in six and B grades in two. Premadasa also mentioned his involvement in volunteer work, serving as an aide to Senator Larry Pressler for two years, with certificates to verify his contributions.
Returning to Sri Lanka in May 1993 following the assassination of his father, Premadasa entered politics. He later pursued a Master’s degree in Environmental Science at the Open University of Sri Lanka in 2021 and 2022. Premadasa noted that the current Prime Minister, who was a lecturer at the university, was aware of his admission and academic progress. He also attended classes conducted by the Prime Minister during this time.
Premadasa concluded his speech by reiterating his readiness to table all relevant documents before Parliament and challenged those questioning his qualifications to verify the authenticity of the presented evidence.
