Vatican’s Top Diplomat Archbishop Gallagher Touches Down in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO (News 1st); His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See, arrived in Sri Lanka today (November 3) for an official visit.

The distinguished guest was warmly received at the Bandaranaike International Airport by Arun Hemachandra, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The visit is undertaken at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism of Sri Lanka, Vijitha Herath, to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Holy See.

During the visit, Archbishop Gallagher will call on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, and will hold official talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

A special commemorative event marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations will also be held at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo, where Archbishop Gallagher will deliver an address.

The programme will further include visits to sites of cultural and religious significance across the country including churches affected by the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019. Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher will remain in Sri Lanka until the 8th of November.