Pope may visit Sri Lanka in January

While some media reports said Pope Francis is expected to visit Sri Lanka on January 13 next year on an invitation from the local church and the Sri Lankan Government, the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka said the dates were not fixed though the pope was expected in Sri Lanka in January 2015.

Rev. Fr. Benedict Joseph, who is the official spokesman for the church in Sri Lanka confirmed the Pope's visit in January though the dates had not been fixed yet.

Fr. Joseph rejected reports carried by some news websites that the Pope would also visit Madhu Church and the internally displaced people in Mannar during his visit.

He said the schedule of his visit was also not finalised.

Meanwhile all Sri Lankan Bishops will visit the Vatican shortly in keeping with the tradition of meeting the pontiff every four years. (Yohan Perera)