The Archdiocese of Colombo rejoices with gratitude and prayer following the announcement that the Holy Father has appointed His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Anton Ranjith Pillainayagam as the new Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jaffna.

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation of the Most Rev. Justin Bernard Gnanapragasam from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Jaffna and has appointed Bishop Anton Ranjith Pillainayagam as his successor.

Born in Jaffna on 23 September 1966, Bishop Anton Ranjith pursued his philosophical studies at St. Francis Xavier Major Seminary, Jaffna, and theological studies at the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka in Kandy. He was ordained a priest for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo on 16 September 2000.

On 13 July 2020, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Colombo and Titular Bishop of Materiana, and received Episcopal Ordination on 29 August 2020. Throughout his episcopal ministry in Colombo, he has served with dedication, particularly as the Episcopal Delegate for the Tamil Catholic Community, fostering pastoral care and unity within the Archdiocese.

Since 2024, Bishop Anton Ranjith has also served as Apostolic Administrator of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Batticaloa, and since 2025, as Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka.

The clergy, religious, and faithful of the Archdiocese of Colombo express their heartfelt congratulations to Bishop Anton Ranjith on his appointment. We thank him for his faithful and devoted ministry as Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo and assure him of our prayers as he begins his new mission of shepherding the Diocese of Jaffna.

May the Lord continue to bless Bishop Anton Ranjith with wisdom, strength, and abundant grace as he leads the People of God entrusted to his pastoral care.