During the meeting as a gesture of goodwill between Sri Lanka and the Vatican, His Holiness the Pope gifted President Sirisena a collection of 14 naval maps compiled in 1562 by Bertholawe Oliva inlcuding a map of Sri Lanka.. President Sirisena gifted the Pope with a golden pitcher with Sri Lankan carvings.
Also a a first day cover and a stamp was presented to the Pope by the President while a special gold coin issued in honour of the papal visit to Sri Lanka was presented by the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe.
Minister Ravi Karunanayake, First Lady Jayanthi Sirisena, Madam Maithri Wickremasinghe, several Ministers, representatives of various political parties were present. (KH)