Keerthisiri Fernando | |
---|---|
Bishop Emeritus of Kurunagala | |
Church | Anglican Church of Ceylon |
Diocese | Kurunegala |
In office | 2018–2022 |
Predecessor | Gregory Shantha Kumar Francis |
Orders | |
Ordination | 30 November 1990 |
Consecration | 6 January 2018 |
Personal details | |
Born | Wannakuwatte Mitiwaduge Devapriya Keerthisiri Fernando 5 May 1961 Colombo, Sri Lanka |
Spouse | Arlene[1] |
Children | Sethsara, Sethlath |
Previous post(s) | Archdeacon of Nuwara Eliya |
Education | Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa, University of Serampore, University of Kent, University of Ruhuna |
Keerthisiri Fernando (Sinhala: කීර්තිසිරි ප්රනාන්දු හිමිපාණන්, born 5 May 1961) is the sixth Bishop of Kurunegala, Sri Lanka.
Wannakuwatte Mitiwaduge Devapriya Keerthisiri Fernando was born in Colombo on 5 May 1961, the son of David Fernando and Neeta Perera. Fernando attended the Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa, from 1967 to 1980.[2]
In 1989, Fernando received his Bachelor of Theology from the University of Serampore in India. He was subsequently ordained as a priest in Church of Ceylon on 30 November 1990.[citation needed] In 1993 he obtained a Bachelor of Divinity from University of Serampore. From 1996 to 2010 he served in various positions at the Theological College of Lanka in Pilimatalawa. In 2001 he received a Master of Philosophy (Sociology with theological implications) from the University of Ruhuna in Sri Lanka and in 2005 he received a Master of Philosophy (Theology and Sociology of Religion) from the University of Kent.[citation needed]
In 1996, he was posted to the Theological College of Lanka, Pilimatalawa as a lecturer. He served as Chaplain, Director of Field Education until 2010 and as Acting Principal. In 2011 he became the incumbent of the Holy Emmanuel Church, Moratuwa[3] and in 2015 he was assigned to St. Francis of Assisi, Mount Lavinia. On 29 April 2016 he was installed as the 5th Archdeacon of Nuwara Eliya.[4][5]
On 21 September 2017, he was elected to the position of Bishop of Kurunegala.[3][6] On 6 January 2018 he was ordained as the 6th Bishop of Kurunegala at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Kurunegala.[citation needed]
In December 2020, the Archbishop of Canterbury appointed him as the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Ceylon.[citation needed]
On 17 May 2022, he received a Doctor of Divinity from St Andrew's Theological University in India.[citation needed]
On 24 September 2022, he announced his resignation as bishop, citing personal reasons. The Archbishop of Canterbury appointed him as Acting Bishop until a replacement is made.[7]