July 03, 2012: Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday created a new diocese in Eastern Sri Lanka and appointed a bishop to it. The Pope split the Diocese of Trincomalee-Batticaloa into two, creating the new diocese of Batticaloa. At the same time the Pope has also appointed Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ponniah of Trincomalee-Batticaloa as the first bishop of Batticaloa.
New OMI Information, no.524 is released
OMI information 524