Dioceses

The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka is organized into 12 dioceses, including one archdiocese, each serving specific regions of the country. These dioceses are:

  1. Archdiocese of Colombo
  2. Diocese of Anuradhapura
  3. Diocese of Badulla
  4. Diocese of Batticaloa
  5. Diocese of Chilaw
  6. Diocese of Galle
  7. Diocese of Jaffna
  8. Diocese of Kandy
  9. Diocese of Kurunegala
  10. Diocese of Mannar
  11. Diocese of Ratnapura
  12. Diocese of Trincomalee

Each diocese encompasses a specific geographical area and caters to the spiritual needs of the Catholic population within its boundaries.

Catholic Population and Distribution

As of the 2012 census, approximately 1.2 million Catholics resided in Sri Lanka, constituting about 6.1% of the total population.

Geographical Distribution

The diocesan boundaries align with specific provinces and districts:

  • Archdiocese of Colombo: Covers the Western Province, including Colombo, Gampaha, and Kalutara districts.
  • Diocese of Jaffna: Encompasses the Jaffna Peninsula in the Northern Province.
  • Diocese of Kandy: Serves the Central Province, including Kandy, Matale, and Nuwara Eliya districts.
  • Diocese of Galle: Covers the Southern Province, including Galle, Matara, and Hambantota districts.

This structure ensures that the Catholic Church's administrative and pastoral activities are effectively managed across the diverse regions of Sri Lanka.

Clergy and Parishes

The dioceses collectively oversee numerous parishes and are served by both diocesan and religious priests. For instance, the Archdiocese of Colombo has 137 parishes and is served by 373 diocesan priests and 143 religious priests.

This extensive network facilitates the Church's mission and outreach throughout the country.

Understanding the diocesan structure and statistics of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka provides insight into its organizational framework and the distribution of its faithful across the nation.