His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksha met His Lordship Thomas Savundranayagam, Bishop of Jaffna at Jaffna Bishop's House and also His Lordship Bishop Kingsley Swampillai, Bishop of Trinco-Batticoloa and the Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ponniah Auxiliary Bishop in Batticoloa, on Sunday the 10th January 2010.

While the Bishops expressed their concerns over the development work of the North & East, His Lordship Bishop Thomas Saundranayagam had requested the President to take steps to develop education in Jaffna and upgrade the Sacred Heart Convent to the status of a National School and also His Lordship requested that the Roman Catholic shrine within the high security zone of Jaffna be opened to pilgrims.