The Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations will be in Sri Lanka from 3-8 November to strengthen the shared commitment of the Holy See and the country to peace and cooperation; and while there, will visit the sites of the 2019 Easter attacks.
Vatican News
This week, from 3-8 November, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, will visit Sri Lanka to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with the Holy See.
The visit also marks an effort to reinforce the shared commitment to peace and cooperation between the two nations. During his time in the country, Archbishop Gallagher will also travel to see the places affected by the horrific Easter Sunday attacks in 2019.
A busy week
Upon his arrival in the country on Monday, the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry reported the archbishop was received by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun Hemachandra.
On the official X account of the Vatican Secretary of State, Archbishop Gallagher’s schedule showed he will also meet with Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya on Monday. The following day, 4 November, the program includes a meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
That same day, the Secretary will participate in a conference on the Holy See’s Perspective and Commitment to Dialogue and Peace—commemorating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Holy See, which were established on 6 September 1975.
2025 marked the sixth anniversary of the Easter Sunday attack in Sri Lanka (ANSA)
Archbishop Gallagher’s visit will continue with a scheduled visit to the sites of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, which claimed more than 250 lives. He will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Lucia’s Cathedral in Colombo and he is scheduled to meet with members of the Sri Lankan Episcopal Conference.
On 6 November, his schedule will include meetings with Malwatta religious authorities and with the Asgiriya religious authorities in Kandy. This will be followed by a visit to the Buddhist temple in the city.
To close his visit to Sri Lanka, Archbishop Gallagher will meet with seminarians and the academic staff at the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka on the last day.
