President to brief His Holiness on current developments

Rasika Somarathna

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa will brief His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on the situation in Sri Lanka during his forthcoming visit to the Vatican, Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona said yesterday.

President Rajapaksa also hopes to convey the best wishes of the Sri Lankan people on His Holiness' 80th birthday and the second anniversary of his election as Pope Benedict XVI.

Dr. Kohona also added that the President would use the opportunity to convey the Government's appreciation regarding the supportive statement issued by the Vatican for a peaceful resolution to the Sri Lankan conflict. The office of the Papal Nuncio said His Holiness had responded positively to a request made by President Rajapaksa to grant an audience.

A spokesman at the office said that the two Heads of State will discuss the situation in Sri Lanka. It is likely to be a one on one meeting with no others allowed inside, sources said.

The visit is expected show the world the respect Vatican has for the Head of State in Sri Lanka, sources said. The delegation going with the President is expected to be given an audience with the Pope after the one to one meeting between the President and the Pope.

Apart being the Head of State in the Vatican the Pope is the Spiritual Leader of 1.3 billion Roman Catholics all over the world.