Bishop of Badulla
Msgr. Echchampulle Arachchige Jude Nishanta Silva was born on 5 May 1970 in Moratuwa, in the archdiocese of Colombo. He completed his studies in philosophy and theology at the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka in Ampitiya, in the diocese of Kandy. He was ordained a priest on 2 October 2001 for the diocese of Badulla. After ordination, he held the following offices: parish vicar of Christ the King in Diyatalawa (2001-2003); and bursar (2003) and then rector of the Saint Etmard Minor Seminary in Haputale, Badulla (2004-2007). He then studied for a licentiate in canon law at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome (2007-2010), after which he served as parish priest of Holy Family in Bibile (2011-2014); parish priest of Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Badulla (2014-2019); since 2011, judicial vicar and chancellor of the diocese of Badulla; since 2015, member of the episcopal council; and since 2020, director of diocesan Caritas. Bishop Echchampulle Arachchige Jude Nishanta Silva Pope Francis on Jan. 30, 2023, named Father Echchampulle Arachchige Jude Nishanta Silva as the new bishop of Badulla diocese. Bishop Nishanta Silva was born on May 5, 1970, in Moratuwa in the archdiocese of the capital Colombo. He was ordained a priest on Oct. 2, 2001. He served as parish vicar of Christ the King in Diyatalawa before becoming the treasurer in 2003 and then rector of St. Eymard Minor Seminary in Haputale in 2004. In 2007, he was sent to Rome for further studies, where he obtained a degree in canon law from the Pontifical Urbaniana University in 2010. In 2011, he became parish priest of Holy Family parish. He worked as pastor of St Mary Cathedral in Badulla (2014-2019). In 2020, he became diocesan charity director.