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  • Pope Francis in Sri Lanka
    Pope Francis waves at devotees who gather on the road to see him after he arrived at the Colombo airport.Reuters
  • Pope Francis in Sri Lanka
    Pope Francis stands on his vehicle as devotees gather on the road to see him after he arrived at the Colombo airport.Reuters
  • Pope Francis in Sri Lanka
    Pope Francis is greeted as he arrives at the Colombo airport.Reuters
  • Pope Francis in Sri Lanka
    Pope Francis is greeted as he arrives at the Colombo airport, Sri Lanka.Reuters
  • Pope Francis in Sri Lanka
    A gust of wind blows the mantle of Pope Francis as he speaks at the Colombo airport.Reuters
  • Pope Francis in Sri Lanka
    A gust of wind blows the mantle of Pope Francis as he stands next to Sri Lanka's newly elected president Mithripala Sirisena at the Colombo airport.Reuters

Pope Francis has arrived in Sri Lanka for his week-long trip to Asia, which is the first papal visit to the country after the end of 40 years long civil war in 2009.

He was welcomed by troupes of dancers and choir at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo on Tuesday, 13 January.

Many devotees gathered to see the Pontiff. 

"Sri Lanka needs to find out the truth of what happened during its long civil war in order to consolidate peace and heal scars between religious communities", the Pope said on Tuesday, according to Reuters. 

Maithripala Sirisena, Sri Lanka's new president has also promised to end the increasing suppression of the religious minorities in the country.

The 78-year-old Pope, who will spend two days in Sri Lanka, will then travel to the Philippines, and will celebrate open-air masses during his trip.

Watch the video below:

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