The Northern and Eastern Bishops’ Conference, comprising the Bishops and Vicars General of the Dioceses of Jaffna, Mannar, Trincomalee, and Batticaloa, was convened on November 12 at Holy Family Convent, Vavuniya. The meeting was chaired by the Bishop of Trincomalee, Rt. Rev. Dr. Noel Emmanuel.
During the session, participants reviewed the pastoral and administrative activities carried out over the past year and engaged in discussions on strategic plans for the year ahead. Several important proposals and decisions were adopted, including plans to make the Tamil translation of the Final Synodal Document and the Holy Bible widely accessible to the faithful. It was also decided to organize a Lenten retreat for priests from all four dioceses at the Madhu Shrine, Mannar, during the upcoming Lenten season.
Further discussions addressed the possibility of forming a single Archdiocese encompassing the four Tamil dioceses, as well as initiating efforts to recognize as martyrs those who sacrificed their lives for the faith in the region.
The meeting was attended by the Bishops of Jaffna and Mannar, along with the Vicars General of Batticaloa, Mannar, and Jaffna, reflecting a collaborative effort to strengthen pastoral care and faith initiatives across the Northern and Eastern dioceses.
