Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena visited the Basilica of Bom Jesus on Monday. The President Sirisena is in Goa to participate in the BRICS-BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) outreach meet. He explored the world heritage monument complex, that contains churches in Old Goa.
The Sri Lankan President visited the 16th-century monument during the morning hours. He is said to have spent some time with the relics of St. Francis Xavier that are encased in a silver casket in a glass container.
“The Sri Lankan President admired the building. I took him around the place and explained to him the importance of the place,” Fr Savio Barretto, the parish priest of the Basilica told PTI.
He was given a briefing on the importance of the world heritage monument complex to Goa. Besides, Basilica of Bom Jesus, the President also visited the Se Cathedral and Christian Art Museum.
