Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Sri Lanka’s Diocese of Colombo elects new Bishop

Sri Lanka’s Diocese of Colombo, a short while ago elected Ven. Dhiloraj Canakasabey, uncontested, as the fifteenth Bishop of Colombo, reports The Asian Tribune.

The Diocesan Council of the Diocese of Colombo of the Church of Ceylon elected the incumbent Archdeacon of Nuwara Eliya, Ven. Dhiloraj Canakasabey as the Bishop of Colombo.

Although Ven. Canakasabey’s was uncontested he had to obtain the required two-thirds majority of both the House of Laity as well as the House of Clergy, as per the Constitution, Canons and Rules of the Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon.

He succeeds Rt. Rev. Duleep Kamil De Chickera, who was consecrated and installed as the Bishop in May 2000, and is the second Tamil to be appointed as the Bishop of Colombo, after Rt. Rev. J J Gnaprakasham.

Outgoing bishop- Rt. Rev. De Chickera, on December 19, 2010, announced that he would step down from the mantle of the ‘See of Colombo’, adding that he would leave the country once a successor is found for his office.

Ven. Canakasabey is likely to be installed during the third week of May. Affectionately known as “Fr. Dilo” he is a priest loved by all Anglicans regardless of race or language.