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The Diocese of Kurunagala commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the passing of the Rt. Revd. Lakdasa Jacob De Mel, the founding Bishop of the Diocese of Kurunagala, with a Thanksgiving Service and cultural programme held at the Cathedral Church of Christ the King, Kurunegala, on Friday, 30 October 2026.

The commemoration, organised with the Bishop Lakshman Wickremasinghe Centre (BLWC), brought together clergy, members of the Church and the wider community to remember the life, ministry and enduring legacy of one of the pioneering figures of the Anglican Church in Sri Lanka.

Born in 1902, Bishop Lakdasa De Mel was a pioneer of the indigenisation of the Anglican Church in Sri Lanka. He was deeply committed to expressing the Christian faith within the cultural context of Sri Lanka, including through the use of Sinhala and indigenous forms of music and worship. He served as the first Bishop of the newly established Diocese of Kurunagala from 1950 to 1962.

The Diocese of Kurunagala was formally established on 2 February 1950, with Bishop Lakdasa De Mel being consecrated and enthroned as its first Bishop at the Chapel of Trinity College, Kandy. His episcopate laid important foundations for the Diocese, including the building of the Cathedral of Christ the King, Kurunegala, which became a lasting symbol of the Diocese and his vision for an indigenous Church.

Bishop De Mel was also deeply committed to relationships across religious and cultural communities. His ministry reflected a vision of a Church rooted in Sri Lankan society, seeking dialogue and understanding with people of other faiths. The Diocese's own history identifies the indigenisation of the Church and engagement with the country's diverse communities as important aspects of his legacy.

In 1962, Bishop De Mel was elected Metropolitan of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon, becoming the first Sri Lankan to serve as an Anglican Archbishop. After his retirement, he returned to Kurunegala, where he spent his final years. He died on 23 October 1976, and his remains were laid to rest at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Kurunegala.

The commemoration continued on Saturday, 31 October 2026, with the Bishop Lakshman Wickramasinghe Memorial Annual Event. The programme included a Thanksgiving Service and Community Programme at the Church of Christ the Good Shepherd and Healer, Rajanganaya, held in conjunction with a pastoral visit and Confirmation Service.

Bishop Lakshman Wickramasinghe, who succeeded Bishop De Mel as Bishop of Kurunagala in 1962, served the Diocese until 1983. He was consecrated at the age of 35 and was, at the time, one of the youngest bishops in the Anglican Communion. His episcopate became particularly associated with social justice, ethnic harmony and human rights, continuing and developing the vision of his predecessor in a changing Sri Lankan society.

The two-day observance therefore provided an opportunity not only to remember two former Bishops of Kurunagala, but also to reflect on the continuing relevance of their ministry. From Bishop Lakdasa De Mel's vision of an indigenous Anglican Church to Bishop Lakshman Wickramasinghe's commitment to justice and human dignity, their witness continues to shape the mission and identity of the Diocese.

The Diocese of Kurunagala gives thanks for their lives of faithful service and seeks to carry forward their legacy through worship, pastoral ministry, community engagement, reconciliation and service to the people of Sri Lanka.