President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday received a strong assurance from Italian President Giorgio Napolitano that his country would take stringent measures to deal with any terrorist activities directed against Sri Lanka from Italian soil. Italy is one of the countries strictly enforcing the European Union ban on the LTTE.

When the two leaders met yesterday in Rome they had friendly and cordial discussion. President Rajapaksa expressed his deep appreciation and gratitude for the assistance rendered by the Italian Government during the Tsunami catastrophe, a media release from the Presidential Secretariat said.

While agreements have already been signed in the areas of education, culture, science and technical co-operation between the two countries by the Foreign Ministry, the two leaders discussed the possibility of extending this to cover other fields too in the future.

The Italian President stressed that his Government would not condone any terrorist activity directed against Sri Lanka and that steps would be taken to investigate those who are lending such assistance on Italian soil.

President Rajapaksa gave a lengthy briefing on the present situation in Sri Lanka to his Italian counterpart while eliciting a positive response from his host to his request for Italy's support in the quest for permanent peace in Sri Lanka.

The visit by President Rajapaksa is the first by a Sri Lankan leader to Rome in 24 years, the last being former President J.R. Jayewardene.

President Rajapaksa also had lengthy discussions pertaining to expat Lankan workers in Italy with the attention of Italian leader being drawn to finding more employment for Lankans in Italy.

The talks helped to strengthen existing friendship and bi-lateral relations between the two countries, the release added.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Italy Rodney Perera were also present. President is due to meet His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI at Vatican today.