Vatican pledges help in education

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI met for a one on one meeting at the Vatican on Friday.

The private audience was held at the Papal Library.

During the meeting, President Rajapaksa explained to His Holiness the economic development work carried out in Sri Lanka and its progress.

President Rajapaksa told His Holiness that there were no religious conflicts in Sri Lanka and the Buddhists in Sri Lanka were tolerant. The President extended an invitation to His Holiness, the Pope to visit Sri Lanka.

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI told President Rajapaksa that the President had brought peace to Sri Lanka and he could now develop the country.

His Holiness stressed the importance of education and said that the Vatican would help Sri Lanka through Caritas in the field of education.