President Mahinda Rajapaksa today (18thApr) left the Island for Italy for a three day official tour, Presidential office said
The Sri Lankan President is to meet Holy Pope Benedict XVI at Vatican and the Italian President during his visit. President will hold discussions with Holy Pope with the aim of to garnering international support for Government's efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict through a negotiated settlement.

He is conducting this visit on the invitation extended by the Papal Nuncio in Sri Lanka, Archbishop Mario Zenari.

President Rajapaksa will be visiting Rome along with a number of Ministers including Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and Ministers Milroy Fernando, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Dayasritha Tissera and several others.

The Sri Lankan delegation is due to attend the ceremonies connected with the second anniversary of the papacy of the Pope on April 19.

President Rajapaksa who went to Vatican as Prime Minister to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2004 will be the first President of Sri Lanka to meet with the present Pope, who marks the second year of His Papacy on April 19.