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.