Ceylon Bible Society rendered a great service - Archbishop

Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said that Bible Societies have become internationally recognised instruments to diffuse the Bible and its spiritual riches worldwide.

He commended the Ceylon Bible Society (CBS) for doing this work with great enthusiasm in Sri Lanka for the past 200 years, producing not only the vernacular versions of the Sacred Scriptures but also a wide variety of Scripture-based publications and products for the use of the local Christian community.

The Archbishop in his message said the Ecumenical Bible which is a commonly acceptable translation in Sinhala of the Holy Bible that has been approved by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka and the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka.

A thanksgiving service was held at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour in Colombo to mark the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Ceylon Bible Society (CBS).

The Patron of CBS, Anglican Bishop of Colombo, Rt Rev Dhiloraj Canagasabey, recited the opening prayer on the occasion while the welcome address was delivered by Chairperson of the Organising Committee for the 200th anniversary celebrations, Mrs Vasanthi Rajaratnam, CBS General Secretary, Mrs Lakshani Fernando highlighted the 200-year history of CBS.

Choral renditions were presented by the choirs of the Ceylon School for the Deaf and Blind, Ratmalana, Trinity College, Kandy, Combined Catholic Schools and the Merry-Ann Singers.Many Heads of Churches in Sri Lanka and international representatives of Bible Societies abroad were present.