The Episcopal Ordination and Installation of Rt. Rev. Dhiloraj Ranjit Canagasabey as the 15th Bishop of Colombo of the Church of Sri Lanka took place on Saturday at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour in Colombo.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa accompanied by First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa attended the consecration ceremony.

Rev. Canagasabey succeeds Rt. Rev Duleep de Chickera, the 14th Bishop of Colombo, who relinquished office at the beginning of this year.

He was elected without contest by the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of Colombo at a special session held in March.

The outgoing Bishop Rt. Rev. Duleep de Chickera, Rt. Rev. Paul Sharker as the representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury Most Rev. Dr. Rowan Williams, former Bishop of Colombo, Rt. Rev. Kenneth Fernando and the representatives from the Anglican Church were present at this occasion.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Rev. Sobitha Thera, along with other religious dignitaries of other communities were also present.