A significant new chapter in the long and distinguished history of Trinity College, Kandy was marked by the Service of Installation of Mr. Dayan D. L. Fernando as the 21st Principal and Custodian of Trinity College.
The service was held at the Holy Trinity Church (Trinity College Chapel), a setting deeply connected with the College's Anglican identity and heritage. From its beginnings, Trinity College has been shaped by the Anglican tradition, with the Christian faith, worship and service forming an integral part of its educational mission and community life.
The Service of Installation brought together the College community, members of the Church, clergy and the College Officials. The Rt. Rev. Nishantha Fernando, Bishop of Kurunagala, offered blessings for the new Principal and the new chapter ahead, while The Ven. Archdeacon Sanath Kumara and clergy representing the wider Church also participated in the service.
Among those present was The Rt. Rev. Dushantha Rodrigo, Bishop of Colombo, together with other clergy, reflecting the close relationship between Trinity College and the wider life of the Church of Ceylon.
The service included the taking of the appropriate oaths and prayers of blessing, entrusting Mr. Fernando with the responsibilities of leadership and custodianship of the College. As the 21st Principal, he now takes on the responsibility of guiding Trinity into its next chapter while preserving the values and traditions entrusted to the College through generations.
The occasion also carried a note of thanksgiving and farewell as the Trinity community bids farewell to Rev. Fr. Araliya Jayasundara OSBP, recognising his ministry and contribution to the life of the College.
The installation was therefore more than a change of leadership. Held within the historic worshipping community of Holy Trinity Church, it served as a reminder of the deep Anglican roots from which Trinity College has grown. The College's educational mission continues to be intertwined with its Christian heritage, seeking to form young people not only through academic excellence but also through faith, character, service and responsibility.
As Mr. Dayan D. L. Fernando begins his tenure as the 21st Principal and Custodian, the Trinity community looks forward with hope and prayer to the journey ahead, grateful for the generations who have built its heritage and confident in God's guidance for the new chapter.