President Rajapaksa meets Napolitano    

[Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 8.15 GMT]   
  
President Mahinda Rajapaksa had an official meeting with his Italian counterpart President Giorgio Napolitano in Rome today (19) as he began his official visit to Rome and the Holy See. He was accompanied by Foreign Minister Rohita Bogollagama and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga.
  
The Sri Lankan President arrived at the Ciampino Military Airport in Rome last evening, where visiting dignitaries are received. He was met by the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Rome Rodney Perera, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Mrs. Sarala Fernando and a Senior Representative of the Italian Foreign Ministry.
  
President Rajapaksa is due to have an audience with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican tomorrow ( 20), in a historic first ever visit by a Sri Lankan Head of State to the Vatican. This is also the first official visit of a Sri Lankan Head of State to Rome in the past 24 years, since the visit here of former President J. R. Jayewardene.
  
Archbishop  Malcolm Ranjith, the Sri Lankan Bishop who heads the Vatican's Congregation of the Liturgy was present at the reception to President Rajapaksa and Mrs. Rajapaksa by Ambassador Rodney Perera last evening. The President and Archbishop Malcolm Ranjit had a long discussion on developments in Sri Lanka, especially about Church – State relations, religious freedom, the threat of terrorism in Sri Lanka and the conditions of Sri Lankan migrant workers in Italy.
  
President Rajapaksa is accompanied by Ministers Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Felix Perera and Milroy Fernando, Deputy Ministers Naomal Perera and Dayasritha Tissera.
  
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama who had been to Greece yesterday met President Rajapaksa at the reception by Ambassador Rodney Perera and informed him that the Bi-lateral discussion with Greece had been concluded and that the Government of Greece had expressed its total opposition to terrorism.

PRINT THIS STORY

Contact Information: Send mail to priu@presidentsoffice.lk with questions or comments about this web site. 
Last Updated Date: April 19, 2007 - 8.15 GMT