Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya was felicitated on Thursday at Delhi’s Hindu College, where she completed her undergraduate studies in sociology between 1991 and 1994. However, Delhi University (DU) was unable to confer on her the honorary doctorate it had planned to present during her visit.
DU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Yogesh Singh told *The Times of India* that although all necessary approvals had been obtained, the university could not organise a special convocation due to scheduling and logistical constraints.
“All necessary approvals were taken, but we could not organise the convocation during her visit due to scheduling and logistical constraints. We will hold a special ceremony when she visits next,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
The decision to confer the honorary doctorate on Prime Minister Amarasuriya had been approved by DU’s Executive Council at an emergency meeting in September, following a request from India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The university had planned to present the degree during her October visit to India.
At Hindu College, Amarasuriya received a warm welcome from the principal, faculty members, and students. NCC cadets accorded her a guard of honour, and she planted a tree to mark the occasion. During her visit, she interacted with students, members of the governing body, and her former teachers.
Principal Anju Srivastava said the college was proud to count among its alumni the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. Amarasuriya, in turn, fondly recalled her days at Hindu College and spoke about how the institution had shaped her early academic interests.
