Papal visit to Sri Lanka on schedule despite presidential election?
November 03, 2014
A visit to Sri Lanka by Pope Francis will take place on schedule in January, despite the prospect of a presidential election in that country that same month, government officials in the Asian country have announced.
In October, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo had asked the government to clarify its plans regarding the papal visit after the presidential election was announced. President Mahinda Rajapaksa replied that the government is going ahead with plans for the Pope’s trip.
The Vatican has not offered any official comment on the presidential election. Ordinarily, papal trips are not scheduled close to the times of important national elections in the countries that the Pontiff will visit.
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Further information:
- Sri Lankan gov't confirms Pope's visit next year (Xinhua)
- Presidential election in Sri Lanka throws into question plans for papal visit in January (CWN, 10/20)
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