The spokesperson of Sri Lanka’s catholic church said that they have requested the government not to hold the election immediately after the visit and appealed to all political parties not to use the visit to gain political mileage.
"If an election is to be held before the visit, it must be held in such a way that ...the preparation for the visit should not be disturbed by such an event. We have appealed to the President to have a sufficient gap between the two events, and they have assured us that everything will be done in order to go ahead with the Pope's visit without any disruptions due to an election," Cyril Gamini Fernando said.
He added that the decision to hold an election and the dates to be fixed for such an election is entirely in the hands of the government and the commissioner of elections, and that the Church has no interest in intervening in the matter, according to Ceylon Today.
The Church previously said it would reconsider the visit in view of the poll, as it would be “inappropriate” for the pontiff to visit during the election period.
Sri Lanka’s Church confirms papal visit (29 October 2014)
Catholic Church will reconsider papal visit if election is held in January (23 October 2014)
Presidential election ‘casts doubt’ on papal visit (22 October 2014)