The decision of the University of Colombo to confer Honorary Doctorates on the President and the Defence Secretary will be appreciated by the people of this country in recognition of the courage they had in the decision to inflict an end to LTTE terrorism. Yet, with all respect to the President, a request is made that on the day the Honorary Doctorate is conferred to request the newspapers and journalists to refrain from to referring to the President as Dr. Mahinda Rajapakse as, he is now respected and recognized the world over as President Rajapakse or Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse.

Few undeserving persons have been conferred doctorates by seemingly unrecognized organizations and the President should distance himself from such persons and thus being referred to as President Mahinda Rajapakse where applicable with the use of the appropriate [ Hon. LLd] title.