ASIA/SRI LANKA - Erection of the Diocese of Batticaloa and appointment of the first Bishop

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Benedict XVI on July 3, 2012 erected the new Diocese of Batticaloa, in Sri Lanka, with territory taken from the Diocese of Trincomalee-Batticaloa, making it a suffragan of the Metropolitan church of Colombo. The Holy Father appointed His Exc. Mgr. Joseph Ponniah, Titular Bishop of Monte Mauretania and Auxiliary of the Diocese of Trincomalee-Batticaloa as the first Bishop of Batticaloa. The new Diocese of Batticaloa (nom. lat. Batticaloaën/sis/), will include the two civil Districts of Batticaloa and Ampara. St. Mary's Church, the current co-Cathedral will become the Church Cathedralof the erected Diocese. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 04/07/2012)