Pope Francis met with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena at the Vatican today, to discuss matters regarding peace and reconciliation on the island, according to an official press release.
A statement from the Holy See Press Office said "cordial discussions... focused on certain aspects of the country’s recent history and the process of peace and reconciliation that is underway, with the hope that it may contribute to promoting stable social harmony".
Discussions also included "the contribution of the Catholic Church in various sectors of society and the importance of interreligious dialogue were shown to be important," said the statement.
During Pope Francis' visit earlier this year, he stated that justice for crimes committed during the island's ethnic conflict is crucial for promoting peace, stating, "the process of healing also needs to include the pursuit of truth, not for the sake of opening old wounds, but rather as a necessary means of promoting justice, healing and unity."
We need your support
Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.
Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view
We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.
For more ways to donate visit https://donate.tamilguardian.com.
