Badulla (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Echchampulle Arachchige Jude Nishanta Silva, Bishop
Julian Winston Sebastian Fernando, S.S.S., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 18 December 1972
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Colombo
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Sri Lanka
Square Kilometers: 8,500 (3,283 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, Rockhill, Spring Valley Road, 90000 Badulla, Sri Lanka
Telephone: (055)222.2079; 222.9241
Fax: 222.9241

Past and Present Ordinaries

Leo Nanayakkara, O.S.B. † (18 Dec 1972 Appointed - 28 May 1982 Died)
Edmund Joseph Fernando, O.M.I. † (5 Dec 1983 Appointed - 3 Mar 1997 Retired)
Julian Winston Sebastian Fernando, S.S.S. (3 Mar 1997 Appointed - 30 Jan 2023 Retired)
Echchampulle Arachchige Jude Nishanta Silva (30 Jan 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
18 December 1972	Erected	Diocese of Kandy (Uva Province)	Diocese of Badulla (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1980 12,565 893,000 1.4% 7 7 1,795 4 45 18 ap1981

1990 17,113 952,000 1.8% 23 7 30 570 11 68 15 ap1991

1999 20,848 1,455,977 1.4% 26 10 36 579 21 75 17 ap2000

2000 21,139 1,465,090 1.4% 24 10 34 621 21 72 17 ap2001

2001 21,415 1,477,145 1.4% 29 13 42 509 25 71 17 ap2002

2002 21,720 1,610,000 1.3% 26 11 37 587 37 70 17 ap2003

2003 21,925 1,611,000 1.4% 28 12 40 548 26 71 17 ap2004

2004 21,985 1,614,000 1.4% 28 11 39 563 27 71 18 ap2005

2006 15,144 1,651,000 .9% 27 15 42 360 25 70 19 ap2007

2012 18,635 1,724,000 1.1% 32 10 42 443 34 72 19 ap2013

2015 17,960 1,464,800 1.2% 30 11 41 438 24 75 19 ap2016

2018 18,195 1,512,700 1.2% 33 11 44 413 13 82 19 ap2019

2020 18,340 1,545,190 1.2% 30 14 44 416 17 79 20 ap2021

2022 17,980 1,562,400 1.2% 26 14 40 449 17 72 21 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1980	12,565	893,000	1.4%	7		7	1,795	4	45	18	ap1981
1990	17,113	952,000	1.8%	23	7	30	570	11	68	15	ap1991
1999	20,848	1,455,977	1.4%	26	10	36	579	21	75	17	ap2000
2000	21,139	1,465,090	1.4%	24	10	34	621	21	72	17	ap2001
2001	21,415	1,477,145	1.4%	29	13	42	509	25	71	17	ap2002
2002	21,720	1,610,000	1.3%	26	11	37	587	37	70	17	ap2003
2003	21,925	1,611,000	1.4%	28	12	40	548	26	71	17	ap2004
2004	21,985	1,614,000	1.4%	28	11	39	563	27	71	18	ap2005
2006	15,144	1,651,000	.9%	27	15	42	360	25	70	19	ap2007
2012	18,635	1,724,000	1.1%	32	10	42	443	34	72	19	ap2013
2015	17,960	1,464,800	1.2%	30	11	41	438	24	75	19	ap2016
2018	18,195	1,512,700	1.2%	33	11	44	413	13	82	19	ap2019
2020	18,340	1,545,190	1.2%	30	14	44	416	17	79	20	ap2021
2022	17,980	1,562,400	1.2%	26	14	40	449	17	72	21	ap2023