Nov 29, Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to meet Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican on Monday during a brief unofficial visit to Italy, Italian media reported.

President will be arriving in the Italian capital of Rome on Sunday for a two day visit on his way to Turkey with the First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, President’s secretary Lalith Weeratunga and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, AKI news agency reported.

The President is expected to discuss interreligious relations with the Pope. However he is not expected to meet Italian state officials.