Rev. Fr. Nishantha Sagara Jayamanna of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament has been appointed as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Anuradhapura by Pope Leo XIV, following the retirement of Bishop Norbert Andradi.
Rev. Fr. Jayamanna completed his philosophical and theological studies at Our Lady of Lanka National Seminary in Ampitiya, Kandy, and obtained a Licentiate in Philosophy from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome. He was ordained a priest in 2000.
Over the years, he has served the Church in a wide range of pastoral, academic, and leadership roles, including Bursar of the Congregation’s community in Pettah and later as Superior of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament.
His pastoral ministry includes appointments as Assistant Parish Priest at St. Thomas’ Church, Matale, and St. Philip Neri’s Church. He has also held formation roles as Assistant to the Master of Novices and later as Master of Novices in Hanwella, and served as Director of the Eymard Campbell Retreat House.
In addition, Bishop-designate Jayamanna has contributed significantly to priestly formation as a Professor of Philosophy at the National Seminary in Ampitiya. He has also served as Director of the Scholasticate of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament and most recently as Provincial Vicar of his religious congregation.
With this appointment, he now assumes pastoral leadership of the Diocese of Anuradhapura, entrusted by the Holy Father to guide the faithful and oversee the spiritual and administrative responsibilities of the diocese.