Cardinal Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don

Cardinal Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don, Metropolitan Archbishop of Colombo, was born on 15 November 1947 in Polgahawela, Sri Lanka. After attending seminary in Colombo and Kandy, he was sent to the Pontifical Urban University, graduating in 1974, and the Pontifical Biblical Institute, graduating in 1978. He was ordained a priest on 29 June 1975 in Saint Peter’s Square. On 17 June 1991 he was elected Titular Bishop of Cabarsussi and appointed Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Colombo. He was consecrated bishop on 31 August 1991. On 2 November 1995 he was appointed Bishop of Ratnapura. On 1 October 2001 he was appointed adjunct secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and president of the Pontifical Missionary Aid Societies. On 29 April 2004 he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio in Indonesia and East Timor, and at the same time, Titular Archbishop of Umbriatico. On 10 December 2005 he was nominated secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and for the Discipline of the Sacraments. On 16 June 2009 he was appointed Archbishop of Colombo. He is president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka since April 2010.