ASIA/SRI LANKA - Resignation and appointment of Bishop of Jaffna

Monday, 29 June 2026

SRI LANKA

2026-06-29
Resignation and appointment of Bishop of Jaffna

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Vatican City (Fides News Agency) - The Holy Father, Leo XIV, has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the Diocese of Jaffna presented by His Excellency Msgr. Justin Bernard Gnanapragasam.

The Holy Father, Leo XIV, has appointed His Excellency Msgr. Anton Ranjith Pillainayagam as Bishop of Jaffna, transferring him from the titular See of Materiana and from the office of Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Colombo.

Anton Ranjith Pillainayagam was born on September 23, 1966, in Jaffna. He studied Philosophy at St. Francis Xavier Major Seminary in Jaffna and Theology at the National Seminary in Kandy.

He was ordained a priest on September 16, 2000, for the Archdiocese of Colombo.

On July 13, 2020, he was appointed Titular Bishop of Materiana and Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Colombo, receiving episcopal consecration on August 29, 2020.
In the Archdiocese of Colombo, he serves as the delegate for the Tamil community.
Since 2024, he has been Apostolic Administrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the Diocese of Batticaloa. Since 2025, he has been Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Sri Lanka. (Fides News Agency, 29/6/2026)