President Mahinda Rajapaksa was conferred the degree of  Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa with the degree of Doctor of Letters by the University of Colombo ,yesterday.

The Senate of the University of Colombo with the approval of the Council of the University resolved that these Degrees of Doctorates be conferred on President Rajapaksa and on Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The University of Colombo conferred the titles on President and Defence Secretary in recognition of their services to the country in safeguarding its territorial integrity, sovereignty and defeating the LTTE by restoring peace and harmony among all Sri Lankan communities and uplifting the image of Sri Lanka within the international community, the Senate of the Colombo University stated.

The titles were conferred by the former Arch-Bishop of Colombo,  Chancellor of the Colombo University Most Rev. Dr.Oswald Gomis.

The awarding ceremony took place with the Postgraduate Convocation of the University of Colombo held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) attended by distinguished guests and invitees.