ASIA/SRI LANKA - The Pope appoints new Bishop of Ratnapura

Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI on 20 January 2006, appointed Bishop of Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, Rev. Ivan Tilak Jayasundera of the diocesan clergy of Kandy, until now professor of liturgy at National Major Seminary in Kandy.
The new bishop was born in Kandy on 25 November 1959. Ha studied for the priesthood at the National Major Seminary at Ampitiya in Kandy. He was ordained a priest on 3 August 1985 for the diocese of Kandy. Since his ordination he served as follows: assistant priest at the Cathedral (1985-1986); parish priest (1987-1989); rector of minor seminary of Kandy, national director for liturgy and culture (1990-1997); parish priest (1997-1999); diocesan director of liturgy and culture (since 1995); professor of liturgy at National Major Seminary in Kandy ( since 1999).
The diocese of Ratnapura created in 1995, is a suffragan of Colombo. It has an area of 4,968 sq. km and a population of 1,787,938 of whom 19,532 are Catholics gathered in 21 parishes, assisted by 34 priests (28 diocesan and 6 religious), 70 women religious and 10 major seminarians. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 20/1/2006; Righe 13; Parole 175)