Colombo: Sri Lanka and the Holy See celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations at a ceremony held yesterday at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo.

According to Ministry of Defence – Sri Lanka, Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) and Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) attended the event. The ceremony was also graced by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations of the Holy See, His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, and Hon. Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The ceremony featured a keynote lecture by Archbishop Gallagher and a speech by Minister of Science and Technology, Hon. Prof. Chrishantha Abesena. The event brought together Cabinet Ministers, ambassadors, commanders of the tri-forces, senior officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and religious leaders.