Diocese of Ratnapura Sri Lanka

Ordinatio Sacerdotalis Priestly Ordination 2024 - Diocese of Ratnapura.

April 6, 2024

Ordinatio Sacerdotalis Priestly Ordination 2024 - Diocese of Ratnapura. Rev. Deacon Akalanka Gimhana Peiris was born on the 17th of February 1994 in Batapattala, Katana into a devoted Catholic Family of Christ Leonard Peiris and Seetha Mali Jayakody. He studied at `Mariya Rajini` School up to his Ordinary Level examination and attended Loyola College and Dutugamunu College for his further education. After having completed his Advanced Level examination he followed an English course in the year 2013 at the Integral English Academy of the Diocese of Ratnapura where he discovered within himself his vocation to be a priest. Responding affirmatively to the divine call he entered the minor seminary of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of the Diocese of Ratnapura in the year 2014. Thereafter, getting through the National Seminary entrance examination, he entered the `Daham Sevena` intermediate Seminary in Kalutara to do his Pre-Philosophical Studies in 2015. In 2016 he entered St. Francis Xavier Major Seminary in Jaffna to complete his philosophical studies. He obtained a degree Baccalaureate in Philosophy (B.Ph Rome) in the Philosophate of the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka in Kandy in 2018. Further, he continued his theological studies for four years at Theologate of the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka, Kandy, and at the end of his priestly formation, he obtained a Baccalaureate in Theology (B.Th Rome) in the year 2023. After having completed his priestly studies and Formation he was sent to the Integral English Academy, Buluthota to practice his pastoral ministry and at the end of this pastoral experience he was ordained a deacon on the 28th of September 2023. He did his diaconate practice and Tamil immersion at St. Mary´s Church Arippu in the Diocese of Mannar. As a deacon, he also served the school dropouts under the Life Education program and St. Anne´s parish community in Ruwanwella. Rev. Deacon Akalanka Gimhana will be ordained a Priest on the 20th of April 2024 at 09:30 am at St. Mary’s Church, Grand Street, Negombo by His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Cletus C. Perera, the Bishop of the Diocese of Ratnapura. His First Holy Eucharist will be celebrated on the 21st of April 2024 at 08:00 am at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Kandawala.