Cardinal Ranjith retirement is expected by November 15, as Church sources point to Bishop Harold Anthony Perera as his likely successor.
The Cardinal Ranjith retirement is expected before November 15, according to internal information emerging from the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka.
His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith was born on November 15, 1947, in Polgahawela. He will celebrate his 79th birthday this year and is expected to retire around the same time.
Archbishops are generally required to submit their retirement upon reaching the age of 75. However, Cardinal Ranjith had repeatedly sought extensions from the Vatican as he continued his campaign for justice over the Easter attacks.
He received his primary education at De La Salle College, Mutwal. He later underwent priestly formation at St. Aloysius Seminary in Borella and the National Seminary in Ampitiya.
In 1974, he obtained a Licentiate from the Urbaniana University in Rome.
The following year, Pope Paul VI ordained him a priest at the Basilica in Rome. Cardinal Ranjith later obtained a Postgraduate Diploma from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Cardinal Ranjith Retirement Follows Decades of Church Service
In 1991, Pope John Paul II appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo.
He became Bishop of Ratnapura in 1995. In 2009, he received the title of Cardinal while serving as Archbishop of Colombo.
In recent years, Cardinal Ranjith has remained heavily involved in efforts to secure justice over the Easter attacks, a campaign he has pursued since 2019.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake publicly acknowledged those efforts during a discussion with the Bar Association.
As reports of the Cardinal Ranjith retirement emerge, Father Cyril Gamini and Father Jude Krishantha have maintained a notably quiet position.
Both priests have stood closely with Cardinal Ranjith during the Easter attacks campaign.
However, they have also faced strong criticism from some priests and lay Catholics. Those critics allege that the Easter attacks were turned into a political and money-making campaign.
Bishop Harold Anthony Perera Named by Church Sources
According to internal Catholic Church sources, Bishop Harold Anthony Perera is expected to become the next Archbishop of Colombo.
He currently serves as President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference and Bishop of Kurunegala.
Bishop Perera previously served as Bishop of Ratnapura and Bishop of Galle. He is widely respected within the Church and regarded by supporters as a dedicated pastoral leader.
He is also known for maintaining cordial relations with Buddhist, Islamic and Hindu religious leaders.
The article’s sources further describe him as a prelate who has not used the Catholic faith for political purposes.
During the 2004 tsunami, Bishop Harold Anthony Perera also carried out extensive service among communities affected by the disaster.
Internal sources maintain that the Vatican has already reached a decision.
However, any confirmation concerning the Cardinal Ranjith retirement or the appointment of a new Archbishop of Colombo can only come officially from the Vatican through the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka.
