Sri Lanka says shares enduring values with Vatican

FOREIGN Minister Vijitha Herath said Sri Lanka’s 50-year relationship with the Holy See stands as a partnership rooted in shared values of peace, reconciliation, and human dignity, reflecting five decades of mutual respect and cooperation.

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Speaking after a meeting with Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Herath said the relationship has been shaped by humanitarian service, education, religious harmony, and nation-building efforts led by the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka.

Archbishop Gallagher said the Vatican looks forward to strengthening bilateral relations with Sri Lanka and cooperating to address shared global challenges. He said the Vatican remains committed to deepening engagement with Sri Lanka through continued cultural exchange initiatives, particularly as both states mark 50 years of diplomatic ties this year.

Foreign Minister said: “The Holy See has long been a moral voice on the global stage, advocating for justice, reconciliation, peace and disarmament, and the rights of all peoples, values that deeply resonate with the aspirations of the Sri Lankan people.

Over the past five decades, our relations have been underpinned by shared values, especially in the areas of humanitarian service, education, religious harmony, and the promotion of human dignity. The Catholic Church has played a vital role in Sri Lanka’s religious and social landscape, contributing significantly to nation-building and reconciliation, particularly in post-conflict contexts.