President to meet Pope Benedict XVI today

Rohan Mathes

Italy: President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to meet Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican today during a brief visit to Italy.

President Rajapaksa arrived in the Italian capital, Rome, yesterday accompanied by First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama. This is the President’s second visit to Italy this year since he attended the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization’s food summit in Rome in June.

President Rajapaksa is expected to discuss interreligious dialogue and his efforts to bring peace to Sri Lanka with the pontiff. Meanwhile beginning his official tour to Italy and Turkey, President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at the Fuimicino International Airport at 7.48 a.m. Italian time yesterday (30).

President Rajapaksa’s visit to Rome, will mark the re-scheduling of the first direct flight between Sri Lanka and Rome which had been suspended for some time, prior to the take-over of the SriLankan Airline’s administration by the Government.

The President is expected to leave on a four day official visit to Turkey later today. First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga has also joined this tour.