The Sri Lanka Government is currently in the process of making all the necessary arrangements for the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis I to the island. 

The visit is taking place following an invitation extended to Pope Francis by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Last month, the President and First Lady Shiranthi Wickremasinghe Rajapaksa travelled to the Vatican where they received an audience with His Holiness and personally extended the invitation to visit Sri Lanka. 

Pope Francis has graciously accepted the President’s invitation, and the Vatican has confirmed that His Holiness will be visiting Sri Lanka in January 2015. 

Under the guidance of President Rajapaksa, the Government is taking all necessary measures to facilitate a successful visit of Pope Francis. Toward this end, all relevant ministries are working together with officials from the Vatican and the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka to finalise the arrangements for the visit. 

The Government is confident that the visit of Pope Francis to Sri Lanka will be a success.

Ministry of External Affairs

Republic Building,

Colombo 01.