Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Archbishop Dr. Malcolm Ranjith as the New Archbishop of Colombo, reported a communiqué of the Apostolic Nunciature in Sri Lanka.

Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith who was Bishop of Rathnapura from1995-2001 was also Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo. He was the Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (2005-2009), Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia and East Timor (2004-2005), Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (2001-2004) and head of the Vatican's Congregation of the Liturgy.

This appointment follows Archbishop Oswald Gomis tendering his resignation upon reaching retirement age.