This appointment was made by Pope Francis on October 9 following the retirement of Bishop Joseph Vianney Fernando, a statement issued by the Media spokesperson for the Catholic Bishop’s Conference Sri Lanka Fr. Lal Pushpadewa.
The new appointment was announced by the Apostolic Nuncio to Sri Lanka Archbishop Brian Udaigwe on Saturday. Bishop Mendis born in Moratuwa studied at St.Sebastian’s College and Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa.
Mendis succeeded Bishop Frank Marcus Fernando as the bishop of Chilaw on October 19,2006.