-By LeN Political Correspondent
(Lanka-e-News -15.May.2025, 11.00 PM) In the realm of national security, credibility is everything. Intelligence officers are trained to separate fact from fiction, identify planted stories, and verify the authenticity of every document and informant. Which is why it now seems tragically ironic that the man entrusted with directing Sri Lanka’s premier security think tank—the Institute of National Security Studies (INSS)—is himself under scrutiny over something as basic as his own academic qualifications.
The man in question is Rohan Gunaratna, a name once whispered in awe in Sri Lankan and international counterterrorism circles. Author of several books on terrorism, self-described intelligence expert, and darling of television panels during times of crisis, Gunaratna was appointed as Director General of INSS in 2023—a role traditionally reserved for senior military commanders or seasoned civilian professionals with unimpeachable records.
But behind the polished public persona lies a growing controversy that threatens not only his personal legacy, but the very integrity of the institute he leads. At the heart of the storm is a simple but explosive question:
Did Rohan Gunaratna mislead the Sri Lankan government about his academic qualifications?
To understand the gravity of the accusations, one must first understand the role and prestige of INSS.
The Institute of National Security Studies was set up as Sri Lanka’s official state-affiliated think tank on strategic affairs—reporting to the Ministry of Defence and designed to provide research-based input to security policymakers. Its former heads include military veterans, distinguished diplomats, and scholars with real-world and academic credibility—men like Asanga Abeyagoonasekera, who brought international partnerships, academic rigour, and institutional respectability to the table.
So when Rohan Gunaratna, a man with no known military service, public administration experience, or formal affiliation with a Sri Lankan university, was appointed Director General in 2023, eyebrows were raised.
How did a man best known for self-publicised claims and hyperbolic television commentary end up leading a national security institute?
One of the first red flags emerged with Gunaratna’s frequent use of the title “Professor.” Almost every article, press release, and public event introduced him as “Prof. Rohan Gunaratna”—a title that carries academic weight and suggests a formal appointment at a university.
But a closer look reveals no evidence of a full professorship at any accredited university in Sri Lanka or overseas. At best, he appears to have held “adjunct” or “visiting” positions—temporary roles with limited academic standing.
In particular, his time at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore—where he worked with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies—was often cited as the basis for his “professor” title. However, sources within NTU confirm that Gunaratna was never conferred a full professorial rank and had no permanent academic post.
“Rohan was a research fellow, perhaps senior, but not a tenured professor,” said a former colleague at NTU. “He was good at selling himself, but academically he was always on the fringe.”
Even more damning than the debate over his professorship is the lack of transparency regarding Gunaratna’s Sri Lankan educational history.
The Department of Examinations has reportedly received requests under the Right to Information Act to verify whether Gunaratna ever passed the Sri Lankan Ordinary Level (O/L) and Advanced Level (A/L) examinations—the basic requirements for university admission in the country.
So far, no verifiable records have been produced showing that he completed either qualification through the standard national process. If this is true, it would be extraordinary. Not only does it suggest he lacks foundational education in Sri Lanka, but it raises questions about how he pursued further education—if indeed he did.
Where did he do his undergraduate degree? Was it recognised by the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka? Was it local or foreign? The public does not know.
Multiple efforts to obtain clarification from Gunaratna’s office at INSS have been met with vague references to “international institutions” and “security training programmes,” none of which constitute formal, accredited academic degrees.
In numerous publications and interviews, Gunaratna has referred to himself as a graduate of Nalanda College Colombo and as someone who has “worked with the CIA, MI6, and Mossad.” But no clear records support his academic progression from Sri Lanka to international prominence.
In his oft-cited biography, Gunaratna claims a Ph.D. in political science from St. Andrews University in Scotland, but university records reportedly show no dissertation listed under his name.
One British academic, who asked not to be named, said bluntly: “If Rohan Gunaratna has a Ph.D. from St. Andrews, it is news to the university.”
And then there’s the strange detail that many of Gunaratna’s books—including Inside Al Qaeda—have been criticised by Western scholars for containing factual errors, lack of source attribution, and in some cases, wildly speculative claims.
“There’s a difference between being prolific and being credible,” said Dr. Michael Clarke, former Director General of the UK’s Royal United Services Institute. “Gunaratna has always straddled that line uncomfortably.”
Under Sri Lankan law, knowingly submitting false academic qualifications to obtain a government position or salary constitutes a criminal offence under several acts—including the Public Administration Circular No. 02/2022 and provisions of the Penal Code relating to fraud and misrepresentation.
Legal experts say that if Gunaratna is found to have fabricated or inflated his credentials to secure his position at INSS, the consequences could include dismissal, criminal prosecution, and a ban from future public office.
“This is not a mere academic scandal,” said Attorney-at-Law Chamila Ruwan. “It’s about public trust. If this is allowed to slide, what message are we sending? That you can run a national institute with fake papers?”
Of course, none of this would be possible without a layer of political protection. Gunaratna’s proximity to the Rajapaksa family—especially Gotabaya Rajapaksa—has long been noted. His 2019 public comments defending the military against allegations of involvement in the Easter Sunday attacks drew sharp rebukes from civil society groups, who accused him of acting as an unofficial government spokesperson.
“He has always functioned as a propagandist, not an academic,” said Ambika Satkunanathan, former Human Rights Commissioner. “His job seems to be to launder the government’s failures through a security lens.”
Given this, it’s unsurprising that despite mounting doubts about his qualifications, Gunaratna was parachuted into the INSS role with no open recruitment, no vetting, and no parliamentary oversight.
As the questions mount, a growing number of voices are calling for a formal investigation.
Civil society watchdogs, including the Centre for Policy Alternatives, have written to the Ministry of Defence demanding a transparent audit of Gunaratna’s qualifications, appointment process, and institutional performance.
Several MPs from opposition parties have said they will raise the matter in Parliament, calling for a select committee or even a Presidential Commission to establish how and why Gunaratna was appointed—despite these glaring discrepancies.
“If we have people with fake Ph.D.s used to running national security think tanks, how do we expect the world to take us seriously?” asked MP Eran Wickramaratne in a recent press conference.
Thus far, the Ministry of Defence has remained silent, refusing to confirm whether it vetted Gunaratna’s qualifications prior to his appointment. INSS itself has issued no public statement, even as questions swirl on social media and in diplomatic circles.
Gunaratna, for his part, continues to make public appearances—most recently at a forum on “countering radicalisation in schools,” where he offered policy recommendations to teachers and educationists.
Ironically, he may soon have to produce his own school leaving certificate.
The Gunaratna scandal is not an isolated incident. In recent years, Sri Lanka has witnessed an epidemic of qualification fraud—from MPs caught with fake law degrees to doctors who couldn’t explain basic human anatomy.
But few scandals cut as deep as this one.
“Rohan Gunaratna is not just a fraud, if proven. He is a symptom of a deeper problem,” said Prof. Dissanayake of the University of Peradeniya. “We reward noise over knowledge, access over ability. This is what happens.”
If the allegations are confirmed, it would mean that Sri Lanka’s top national security adviser holds no recognised school-leaving qualifications, no verified university degree, and no legitimate professorship. That should be unthinkable.
And yet, here we are.
As pressure mounts, the government must decide whether to protect Gunaratna or preserve its own credibility.
The public deserves answers. Did this man misrepresent his academic background to gain a government post? Were political allies complicit in covering it up? And what damage has already been done to the institutional integrity of INSS?
If this moment passes without scrutiny, it will set a dangerous precedent: that credentials don’t matter, as long as you know the right people and say the right things on television.
Sri Lanka cannot afford to be a country run by charlatans with PowerPoint presentations.
It must demand more—from its leaders, its institutions, and especially from the self-proclaimed “professors” entrusted with national security.
-By LeN Political Correspondent
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by (2025-05-15 18:12:08)
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