Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was the recipient of an honorary doctorate from Deakin University, for economic, educational and human resource reforms.

The Premier was awarded the doctorate while on a four-day official visit to Australia, which began Monday.

The Prime Minister is expected to hold discussion with his counterpart Malcolm Turnbull and sign on several bilateral agreements.

This is the first visit by a Sri Lankan state official to Australia in 60 years. Sri Lanka and Australia established diplomatic relations in 1947 and will celebrate 70 years, this year.