History
Vicariate of Kandy was erected on 17 th August 1883
Vicariate of Kandy was erected into a Bishopric in January 1887
Most.Rev.Dr.D.Clement Pagnani O.S.B. — 1 st Bishop of Kandy.
- Born in Fabriano, Italy on 24 th June, 1834. Ordained Priest by Cardinal Brunelli in December, 1857.
- Arrived in Ceylon in June 1851.
- On 12-9-1879 received appointment to the Vicariate of Colombo with the title of Bishop of Hephestium.
- In 1883 was transferred to kandy to take change of the new Vicariate.
- The Vicariate of Kandy was erected into a Bishopric at kandy in January 1887.
- Died at Kandy on 27 th June. 1911.
Most.Rev. D. Bede Beckmeyer O.S.B. — 1 st Sri Lankan Bishop of Kandy.
- Bishop of Kandy from 30 th June, 1912 to 22 nd May, 1935.
- Born on 11-10-1873.
- Ordained Priest on 23-6-1899.
- Elected Bishop on 19 th April, 1912.
- Consecrated Bishop at Kandy on 30 th June, 1912.
- Died at Kandy on 22 nd May, 1935.
Most.Rev. Dr. Bernard Regno O.S.B. — 3 rd Bishop of Kandy.
- Born on 18 th August, 1886.
- Ordained Priest on 18 th December, 1909 by Bishop Pagnani, O.S.B.
- 1 st 10 Years at Dimbulla. 7 months in Gampola. 2 years and 6 months in Badulla.
- Prior from 1921-1925 . Went to Italy in 1925.
- On his return appointed Parish Priest Hatton.
- Died at Kandy on 22 nd May, 1935.
- Elected Bishop on 27 th January, 1936.
- Consecrated Bishop in India.
- Took possession of the Diocese on 17 th March, 1936.
- Retired owing to ill health in October, 1958, as Titular Bishop of Bagai.
- Died on 22-8-1977 at Kandy
Most.Rev. Dr. D. Leo Nanayakkara O.S.B. — 4 th Bishop of Kandy.
- Born on 27 th November, 1917.
- Professed on 23 rd December, 1942.
- Ordained Priest on 10 th February 1950.
- Elected Bishop on 27 th Jul, 1959.
- Consecrated Bishop at Katugastota on 3 rd October, 1959.
- Appointed Bishop of the new Diocese of Badulla on 27 th. December, 1972.
- Took over the new Diocese on 24-2-1973.
- Died on 28-5-1982 at Kandy and buried in Badulla.
Most.Rev. Dr. A. Paul Perera — 5 th Bishop of Kandy.
- Born: 26 th November, 1913.
- Ordained Priest: 24 th July, 1939.
- Assistant Parish Priest, Gampola – 1939 – 1941.
- Assistant Parish Priest, Bandarawella – 1942 -1945.
- Parish Priest, Badulla – 1946 – 1950.
- Parish Priest, Matale – 1950 – 1961.
- Parish Priest, Talawakelle – 1961 – 1970.
- Parish Priest, Badulla and Eqiscopal Vicar of Uva District – 1970 – 1973.
- Elected Bishop – 13 th May, 1973.
- Ordained Bishop – 29 th June, 1973, Rome by His Holiness Pope Paul VI.
- Accession to the Sea – 13 th July, 1973.
- Retired – 31 st March, 1983.
- Administrator untill 29 th June, 1983.
Most. Rev. Dr. Joseph Vianney Fernando
- Parents
- Father : K. Marius Fernando
- Mother : K.L. Catherine Perera
Important Days in Life..
- Born : 06th August 1942, Minuwangoda
- Entrance to the Minor Seminary : January 1956
- Entrance to the National Seminary : June 1959
- Ordained Priest : 21st December, 1966
- Nominated as the Bishop of Kandy : 27th March, 1983
- Episcopal Ordination : 21st May, 1983
Educated at..
- St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy
- St. Joseph’s minor Seminary, Kandy
- National Seminary, Ampitiya
- Aquinas University College, Colombo
- University of Peradeniya, B.A. 1973
- St. Paul’s University, Ottawa, Canada. M.C.L. 1977
Appointments as a Priest
- Assistant Parish Priest, St. Joseph’s Church, Gampola. 1967-1969
- Director KTI & SETIK 1973-1983
- Vicar General, Diocese of Kandy 1973-1983
- Parish Priest, St. Anthony’s Cathedral, Kandy 1977-1979
- Visiting Lecturer, National Seminary, Ampitiya 1978-1980
- Rector, St. Joseph’s minor Seminary, Kandy 1980-1981
- National Director, Social and Economic Development Centre 1980-1983
Services to the National Church
- Chairman Blessed Joseph Vaz Secretariat 1983 to date
- Chairman National Commission for Justice Peace and Human Development of CBCSL 1986-1991, 2001-2003
- Chairman National Commission for Seminaries, Clergy, Religious and Secular Institutes of CBCSL 1992-1994
- President of CBCSL 1995-1998, 2004-2007, 2007-to date
- Chairman National Commission for Liturgy & Culture of CBCSL 1998-2004
Services to the Universal Church
- Executive Chairman of FABC Office for Human Development 1995-1999
- President of Caritas Asia 1995-2003
- Vice President of Caritas International
- Member of the Pre-Synodal Council, Synod, and Post Synodal
- Council of the Special Synod of Bishops for Asia 1995- to date
- Member of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum 1980-1989
- Member of the Pontifical Council for Inter Religious Dialogue 1995-2002
- Member of the Episcopal Team for Canonical Visitation of Major Seminaries in India & Pakistan
Bishop Warnakulasurya Wadumestrige Devasritha Valence Mendis
Bishop’s House,
Siyambalagasthenne katugasthota,
Kandy 20000, Sri Lanka
Phone: (081)222.79.95
Fax :(081)222.79.95
Email: bpvalence@sltnet.lk
Bishop Warnakulasuriya Devsritha Valence Mendis was born on May 21, 1958, at Koralawella in Moratuwa. He was ordained a priest on July 20, 1985 at St. Joseph’s church, Wennappuwa. He was consecrated as Co-Adjutor Bishop of Chilaw on April 02, 2005. Bishop Valence Mendis completed the M. A. at the university of Peradeniya and became the visiting lecturer in the department of Philosophy. He speaks Italian, German, Latin, English, Sinhala and Tamil. He was the first director of the national seminary philosophate. Bishop Valence Mendis is the chairman of the National commission for education, Bible apostolate, catechetics. Chairman of the National commission for Migrants, refugees, health. Chairman of the national commission for ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue of the catholic bishops’ conference of Sri Lanka.
On 9 October 2021, Pope Francis named him bishop of Kandy.
Previous Ordinaries:
- Bishop Joseph Vianney Fernando (17 Mar 1983 Appointed – 9 Oct 2021 Retired)
- Bishop Appasinghe Paul Perera (1973 – 1983)
- Bishop Leo Nanayakkara, O.S.B (1959 – 1972)
- Bishop Bernardo Regno, O.S.B (1936 – 1958)
- Bishop Bede Beekmeyer, O.S.B (1912 – 1935)
- Bishop Clemente Pagnani O.S.B (1883 – 1911)
