The Art of Living may return the honorary doctorate conferred on its founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to the Open International University for Complementary Medicines (OIUCM) in Sri Lanka, after Express reported that the university does not have any statutory recognition.

“The (Express) article came as a surprise to us. We received a message that they wanted to confer a doctorate on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Sri Sri did not even go himself to receive the doctorate although the First Lady of Sri Lanka did the honours at the event. We are considering returning the doctorate,” read a statement issued by the Art of Living on Wednesday.

The spiritual leader was awarded a doctorate in holistic medicine by OIUCM in 2006. On Tuesday, Express reported that doctorates and degrees of this university were being sold through agents and other dubitable institutions. (Indian Express)