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Christianity in Sri Lanka has a fascinating history dating back centuries. Introduced by Portuguese colonizers (1505–1658) in the early 16th century, Christianity took root and evolved over time to become a significant religious minority in the country. Today, Christians, primarily Roman Catholics and Protestants, make up around 7-8% of Sri Lanka’s population.
The Portuguese established colonies along the coastal regions of the island, including areas such as Colombo, Galle, and Jaffna. During the Portuguese colonial period, Christianity, particularly Roman Catholicism, became the dominant form of Christianity in Sri Lanka.
Portuguese missionaries, particularly members of religious orders such as the Jesuits and Franciscans, were active in Sri Lanka during this period. They engaged in evangelization efforts aimed at both Buddhists and Hindus, preaching the Christian gospel and attempting to persuade individuals to convert to Catholicism.
The Portuguese offered various incentives to encourage conversion, including patronage, economic benefits, and positions of authority within the colonial administration. Those who converted to Christianity could receive favours from the Portuguese authorities, such as land grants, trade privileges, or exemptions from certain taxes.
The Portuguese established churches, schools, hospitals, and orphanages, which served as centres for religious instruction, social services, and community outreach. These institutions often had a dual purpose of providing assistance to the local population while also facilitating the spread of Christianity.
Portuguese missionaries sometimes adapted Christian practices and rituals to resonate with local cultural traditions, making Christianity more appealing to Buddhists and Hindus. This strategy aimed to minimize cultural barriers to conversion and foster a sense of cultural continuity for converts.
Despite the Portuguese conversion efforts, there was significant resistance from both Buddhist and Hindu communities. Many people remained steadfast in their traditional faiths and resisted attempts at conversion. This resistance sometimes led to conflicts between the Portuguese authorities and local populations, exacerbating tensions between the colonizers and the colonized.
During the Dutch colonial period in Sri Lanka (1658-1796), the Dutch East India Company, unlike the Portuguese, did not actively engage in widespread conversion efforts aimed at Buddhists and Hindus. While the Dutch were primarily interested in trade and maintaining control over strategic coastal areas, there were some limited attempts at conversion, albeit with less zeal than their Portuguese predecessors. While they did not actively promote conversion to Christianity, they also did not prohibit it, and individuals were free to convert if they chose to do so.
However, during the Dutch colonial period in Sri Lanka, Catholics, particularly those who adhered to Roman Catholicism, which had been promoted by the Portuguese colonizers, faced persecution and restrictions imposed by the Dutch authorities. This persecution was primarily due to religious differences and political tensions between the Dutch Protestant rulers and the Catholic population.
Despite the lack of active conversion efforts, the Dutch did establish Christian institutions such as churches and schools in Sri Lanka. These institutions served the small Christian population of Dutch settlers and employees, as well as the indigenous population who had converted to Christianity.
During the British colonial period in Sri Lanka which lasted from the early 19th century until the mid-20th century, British missionaries and colonial administrators again began to convert Buddhists and Hindus to Christianity. However, unlike the Portuguese, the British approach to conversion was often more subtle and indirect, with a greater emphasis on education, social services, and cultural influence.
British missionaries, representing various Christian denominations such as Anglicans, Methodists, and Baptists, were active in Sri Lanka during the colonial period. They established schools, churches, and missions across the island, where they preached the Christian gospel and provided education and healthcare services.
Christianity in Sri Lanka today reflects a diverse and vibrant community that has evolved over centuries of history and cultural exchange. Christians make up a minority of Sri Lanka’s population, comprising approximately 7-8% of the total population. Roman Catholics constitute the largest Christian denomination in Sri Lanka, followed by various Protestant denominations.
Some Churches with Rich Histories
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All Angels’ Church in Colpetty / Gal Palliya (කොල්ලුපිටිය ගල් පල්ලිය)
The Church of St. Michael and All Angels’ in Polwatte, Colombo 3, also known as the Gal Palliya by the locals, will more than surprise if not delight you with its architecture, artifacts and antiquities.
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Badulla St. Mark’s Church (බදුල්ල ශාන්ත මාක් දේවස්ථානය)
A small but a beautifully built English church called St . Marks Church, this church was built by the public in memory of Major Thomas William Rogers (the Government Agent for Badulla District) was consecrated on 25 April 1857 by Bishop James Chapman. The Belltower at the entrance has been built in 1921.
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Dutch Reformed Church of Galle
The Dutch Reformed Church, with gables on the eastern and western walls, but no tower, was completed in 1755. It is similar in style to the ones in Negapatnam and Cochin in India, even including the walls. It is built on the site of an earlier Portuguese convent. Around the church and within the walls…
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Dutch Reformed Church of Matara (මාතර රෙපරමාදු පල්ලිය)
The Dutch Reformed Church of Matara is nestled within the walls of the historic Matara Fort, initially built by the Dutch. The fortification of Matara took place around five years The building was erected in 1706, according to an inscription over the doorway. During subsequent repairs and improvements this date has been obliterated and another…
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Holy Emmanuel’s Church of Hanguranketha (හඟුරන්කෙත ශුද්ධවූ එම්මානුවෙල් පල්ලිය)
Built in 1886 by the philanthropist Charles Henry de Soysa, Holy Emmanuel’s Church of Hanguranketha is one of the oldest Churches in the district of Nuwara Eliya. A special feature found in this church is a stone moonstone near its main entrance. Such moonstones are generally found in Buddhist shrines and buildings near its main…
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Kappa Kovil (Portuguese Church) Ruins in Mannar (මන්නාරම කප්පා කෝවිල නටබුන්)
The architectural features of this building resemble those of a church. The dilapidated building belongs to the Portuguese Period. There is no roof in the building and the thickness of a wall is about 2m. Specially prepared bricks have been used and the length, width and height of a brick are 1 foot, 8 inches…
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Katchatheevu Island of Sri Lanka and the St. Anthony’s Festival
Katchatheevu (Kachchativu) is a small 163-acre (0.66 square kilometers), barren, uninhabited island located in the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka. It lies right in the center of Rameswaram in India and Delft Island of Sri Lanka with about 20km on both sides.
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Kochchikade St. Anthony’s Shrine (කොච්චිකඩේ ශාන්ත අන්තෝනි දෙව්මැදුර)
St. Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade in Kotahena was established in the 18th century when the Catholicism was a proscribed religion by the Dutch and priests could not exercise their ministry in public. It was one of the churches bombed during the easter attack of 2019.
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Madhu Church at Mannar : Ancient Pattini Devalaya of Madhu (මඩු පල්ලිය)
Madhu is a mystic jungle shrine dedicated to Mother Mary lying on a remote area in Mannar. The church is one of the few churches which is visited by Buddhists as well as Hindus from all over the country.
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Nallur St James’ Church (යාපනය නල්ලුර් ශාන්ත ජේම්ස් පල්ලිය)
St James’ church in Nallur, is a one of the grandest British churches in Jaffna peninsula. It was opened in 1828 on the site of the original Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil which was destroyed by the Portuguese.
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Ruins of Nagathalvu St Thomas Church in Mannar (මන්නාරම නාගතාලවු ශාන්ත තෝමස් පල්ලිය)
This church is more than 100 years old. It is built using limestone, coral stones and bricks. The roof of the church was destroyed during the period LTTE Terrorists operated in this area. Now walls are dilapidated as well. The length of the church building is 26.2m and the width is 10m. A wall is…
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Ruins of Portuguese Church of Our Lady of Angels in Myliddy – Jaffna
Myliddy is a fishing village on the northern coast of Jaffna Peninsula. The village has its own fisheries harbour for fishing boats. The photo from 1971 shows this church in ruins with only walls remaining.
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Ruins of the Chankanai Dutch Church in Jaffna (යාපනය චන්කනායි ඕලන්ද පල්ලිය නටබුන්)
The church at Chankanai was initially built in 1641 by the Portuguese but later rebuilt by the Dutch. Only the massive walls with arches remain today of this building which is now protected as an archeology monument.
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Ruins of the Dutch Church at Kayts St. Anthony’s Church in Jaffna(කයිට්ස් ශාන්ත ඇන්තෝනි පුරාණ ඕලන්ද පල්ලිය)
The ruins of the ancient Dutch Church lies adjoining the new St Anthony’s Church. Although the roof had caved in, the huge walls of the church stands tall by the beach on the sandy land.
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Ruins of the Manalkadu Dutch Church in Jaffna (යාපනය මනල්කඩු පුරාණ ඕලන්ද පල්ලිය නටබුන්)
With part of the Ruins of the Manalkadu Dutch Church buried under the sand due to continued attack of sandy winds for over 100 years, this land mark is provides a unique experience for the visitor.
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St. Anne’s Church Thalawila (තලවිල ශාන්ත ආනා දෙව්මැදුර)
No matter what religion you follow, Thalawila St. Anne’s Church in is one of the most ancient and wonderful of all Christian shrines in Sri Lanka.
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Wolvendaal Church – Colombo (කොලඹ ආදුරුප්පුවීදිය ඕලන්ද පල්ලිය)
Built in 1757 Wolvendaal Church is located in Pettah, a neighbourhood of Colombo. It is one of the most important Dutch Colonial era buildings in Sri Lanka, and is one of the oldest Protestant churches still in use in the country.
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