The Rt. Rev. Dushantha Lakshman Rodrigo
Bishops Message
Dear Friends
Welcome to the fellowship of the Diocese of Colombo of the Church of Ceylon.
Discover who we are and the work we are engaged in among all God’s people in different parts of the country.
In 1818, the Church Missionary Society (CMS – now Church Mission Society) arrived at the port of Galle, and, with it, education and mission stations began to work among the people of this land.
Our first Bishop, James Chapman, and his wife Frances initiated a mission strategy that others have subsequently built on and, inspired others to continue to this day.
The God who creates, calls, and sustains the church to be faithful witnesses to the Gospel imperative of taking Christ’s love to the ends of the world, is the One who empowers us to incarnate ourselves in His spirit in every age and place.
The Diocese of Colombo is conscious of its call to be a truly Sri Lankan church. Since the early 1930’s it has incorporated the cultures and music of our communities in the Sinhala, Tamil and English liturgies, enlivening our worship.
Our diocesan communities and, other visitors, are invited to peruse the website and engage with the many and varied aspects of parish life. Do use the interactive tools to capture our spirituality and the many ways the diocese is fulfilling its role in serving the wider society.
Through these cyber portals, find and communicate with friends and fellow parishioners, join conversations on mission, liturgy, and theology, and priority issues the diocese responds to from time to time in its prophetic ministry.
Digital technology, data resources, and the internet provide a powerful new foundation for co-operation and coordination of our energies as a diocesan community.
Our many web platforms and social media links bring us together more effectively and creatively for collective action in mission and witness.
My prayers are with you as we move closer together as disciples of Christ and, those who are invited to become fellow travelers on the way, working for the liberation of all people who long for transformation.
Biography
His first appointment, in 1994 as a deacon, was at Holy Trinity Church, Nuwara Eliya, and Christ Church, Ragala, among the Tamil speaking estate congregations of the hill country. He was chaplain at S. Thomas' College, Gurutalawa, from 1996 to 1997. In 1998 he was assistant curate at SS Mary and John, Nugegoda, then vicar of the Church of the Ascension, Matara, and afterwards of Christ Church, Mutwal.
From 2006 he served as vicar of St Michael and All Angels, Polwatte, and from 2010 also as chaplain of Bishop's College, Colombo. In 2011 he was warden and chaplain of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia. He was vicar of St Mary and St John, Nugegoda, from 2012, and Headmaster of S. Thomas' Preparatory School from 2015, before becoming vicar of St Paul's, Colombo, in 2017.
He holds a postgraduate diploma in counselling and psychosocial support from the University of Colombo and a master's degree in development and public policy studies from the Open University of Sri Lanka.
The Installation
The country was under pandemic restrictions. The Cathedral held a fraction of the congregation it would normally have held for such a service, and the rest of the Diocese watched it live streamed and broadcast nationally on Rupavahini. Young people were given a visible part in the liturgy, which was a deliberate decision and was noticed.
