Pope appoints new bishop for Galle diocese in Sri Lanka

(May 27, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI on Friday appointed a new bishop to the diocese of Galle in southern Sri Lanka. Fr. Raymond Wickramasinghe, professor of moral theology at the National seminary of Our Lady of Lanka in Kandy is the new bishop. The seat of Galle had been vacant since the transfer of Bishop Harold Anthony Perera to Kurunegala diocese in May, 2009. Bishop designate of Galle, Fr. Wickramasinghe was born on August 31, 1962, at Uthuwankanda in Ratnapura diocese. After his priestly studies at the National seminary of Our Lady of Lanka, he was ordained priest on August 5, 1989 for Galle Diocese. In 1998 he obtained a licentiate in moral theology from Rome’s Alfonsianum Institute, from where later in 2001 he also obtained a doctorate in moral theology. Since his ordination he has served in many capacities ranging from assistant parish priest to rector of the Galle’s minor seminary, director of diocesan Caritas and currently as professor of moral theology at the national seminary of Our Lady of Lanka. Galle diocese, which was established in 1893 has some 9,500 Catholics out of a population of some 2.5 million.