Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando has stated this while speaking to BBC Sandeshaya.

 

The Presidential Election is to be held on January 08, 2015 while the Papal visit will take place five days later, from January 13-15.

 

When asked whether it wan't a breach of tradition for a Papal visit to take place in close proximity to an election, Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando said that he had urged to hold the election before the Papal visit as trend of misusing the visit at political platforms and propaganda could be on the rise, if the election was held after the visit.