Believers Church Installs the First Bishop of Diocese of Colombo

Bishop Lal Vanderwall was installed as the first bishop of Believers Church Diocese of Colombo at a ceremony held on 12th July 2017.

The installation service was witnessed by a large gathering of people, including Ministers of Parliament of Sri Lanka, Bishops from India, clergy from other Christian denominations, leaders of various Christian organizations and governmental institutions, political leaders, and clergy representatives of Islam, Hindu and Buddhist communities.

Dr. K.P. Yohannan, Metropolitan presided at the liturgical service held in the morning where Bishop Dr. Simon John, Bishop Dr. Samuel Matthew, leaders and parish members of Believers Church Diocese of Colombo were present.

A public event to felicitate the newly installed Bishop was held in the afternoon which began with the lighting of the lamp by Metropolitan, Dr. K.P. Yohannan and the chief guests. Hon. Minister John Amaratunga (Minister of Religious & Christian Affairs), Hon. Minister Mano Ganeshan (Minister of National Co-existence, Dialogue & Official Languages), Minister Athauda Seneviratne (Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister), Venerable Rev. Kandane Jinananda (Chief Incumbent of Siriwardanaramaya, Kandana), Swami Kali Kanagaratnam (Chief Priest Hindu Kovil, Colombo), Mr. Sheikh Fazil Farook (Administrator of All Ceylon Jammiyathul Ulamma [ACJU]), Mr. Roshan Fernando (Senior Director Inspector General of Police) and Rev. Dr. Sam Thevabalasingham (Director, Ceylon Every Home Crusade) delivered greetings and felicitations.

The felicitation messages from the Honorable President of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, Honorable Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Honorable Minister, Sagala Ratnayake (Minister of Defense), Honorable Minister, Rajitha Senaratne (Minister of Health & Indigenous Medicine) and Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police, Pujith Jayasundera, were also read at the occasion.