Vatican’s FM to visit Sri Lanka to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations
COLOMBO – Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from November 3 to 8, 2025, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Holy See.
The visit comes at the invitation of Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.
During his stay, Archbishop Gallagher is scheduled to meet President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, and hold official talks with Foreign Minister Herath.
A commemorative event celebrating the golden jubilee of diplomatic ties will be held at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo, where Archbishop Gallagher is expected to deliver a keynote address reflecting on five decades of friendship and cooperation between the two states.
In addition to official engagements, the Archbishop will visit several sites of cultural and religious significance across the country, including churches that were affected by the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019.
Diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Holy See were formally established in 1975, and have since been characterized by mutual respect and collaboration in areas such as education, health care, and humanitarian service. The Holy See has also played a supportive role in Sri Lanka’s efforts toward peace, reconciliation, and interfaith dialogue.
Archbishop Gallagher’s visit is expected to further strengthen these ties, reaffirming the shared commitment of both states to promoting human dignity, compassion, and harmony among communities.
-ENCL
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