An inter-religious delegation from Sri Lanka is on a four-nation tour in a bid to win support to convince the European Union to change its stance on the awarding of GSP+ concessions to Sri Lanka, due to be taken up for consideration by the EU Council in Brussels.

The delegation, expected to arrive in Rome yesterday (Nov. 3), comprises the Ven. Bellanwila Wimalaratana Nayaka Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Bellanwila Raja Maha Viharaya, Ven. Kamburugamuwe Vajira Thero, Rt. Rev. Malcom Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, Hindu Vidyanith Brahmasri Kuhananda Sarma, Alhaj Moulavi Viyas Mohamed J.P., Coordinator of Muslim Affairs to the President and Rev. Fr. Damian Fernando. From Rome it will travel to Brussels, Paris and London to meet the respective Foreign Ministers of Belgium, France and the United Kingdom.

In Rome yesterday, the delegation was due to meet Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State and Foreign Minister of the Holy See. Today they are scheduled to have a private audience with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, followed by a meeting with ItalyForeign Affairs Minister Franco Frattini, who exemplified his country’s true friendship towards Sri Lanka by deciding to despite a busy schedule, meet the Lankan religious dignitaries at short notice.

The Italian government voted in favour of Sri Lanka being granted the IMF loan and membership in the Human Rights Council in Geneva. It has also indicated that it will not vote in favour of a war crimes probe against Sri Lanka. Hitherto, the Italian Government has been directly involved in banning an LTTE satellite channel which was to be uploaded in Milan, just a few days after Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Rome Hemantha Warnakulasuriya complained against it. Thereafter, more than 18 LTTE suspects have been arrested and remanded by the Italian police and are awaiting trial.

Meanwhile, discussions are pending with regard to the invitation for President Mahinda Rajapaksa to visit Italy as he had decided that due to the forthcoming elections, he would not be in a position to travel to Italy in November.

The Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini’s decision to meet the inter-religious delegation from Sri Lanka is another step forward towards strengthening the bilateral relationship between Sri Lanka and Italy.