COLOMBO : The Sri Lankan foreign ministry on Wednesday evening dispelled speculations and news reports that Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris ,would visit Vatican and meet with His Holiness,the Pope.
The Archbishop of Colombo, Reverend Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith told newsmen quoting a local daily that the premier and the Lankan foreign minister would meet His Holiness ,the Pope.
In a rejoinder issued by the foreign ministry in Colombo, the statement said on Wednesday : “ At no stage has the Prime Minister requested nor has he received an invitation to visit the Vatican for an audience with His Holiness, the Pope.”
The statement further confirmed that the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister will shortly make a visit to Bologna, Italy, to participate in an international event which is to be graced by the Prime Minister of Italy and other dignitaries from Italy and other European countries.
“ The Foreign Minister, at his briefing conducted on Monday 6 September, clearly described the purpose of the scheduled visit. The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the opening session of the international symposium which will be held in one of Europe’s oldest seats of learning, the University of Bologna,the statement said.
The statement categorically said : “ The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister will be leaving Italy, at the conclusion of the events in Bologna.”
