Contribution to world peace:
Russia honours President
*Honoris Causa for President
*President sixth head of govt to
receive award
President Mahinda Rajapaksa was conferred the Doctorate Honoris Causa
by the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia yesterday for his
contribution to world peace in defeating terrorism and for his
distinguished service to education and development.
He becomes the sixth Head of Government to be awarded the honorary
doctorate. The doctorate was conferred at a special function held at the
Kremlin Hall Moscow by Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. Filippov,
the President’s media division said yesterday.
The Patrice Lumumba University was first set up in Moscow to promote
peace in the memory of the Prime Minister of Congo Lumumba who was
assassinated by neo-colonial forces.
The university was renamed People’s Friendship of Moscow later.
President Rajapaksa in his speech after receiving the doctorate
recalled the friendly ties between Sri Lanka and Russia.
He recalled that Premier Patrice Lumumba dedicated his life to unite
people divided by ethnicity, caste and religion by educating them and
culturally strengthening them.
The President also visited the Red Square, Moscow yesterday and paid
his respects to the moseleum of V. I. Lenin, the leader of the Russian
October Revolution.
He visited the Kremlin Museum where the crowns and regalia of the
former Czars, Czarinas and the royalty of Russia are on display.
President Rajapaksa was also hosted to a banquet by the students of
Peoples’ Friendship yesterday evening. Among the students of the
university are a number of Sri Lankan students and the President will
also hold talks with the Friendship University Authorities about
strengthening cooperation in education and Information Technologies, the
media division also said. |