Chilaw (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Arachchige Don Wimal Siri Appuhamy Jayasuriya, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 5 January 1939
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Colombo
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Sri Lanka
Square Kilometers: 2,076 (801 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://chilawdiocese.org
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, Puttalam Road, Chilaw 61000, Sri Lanka
Telephone: (032)2222.332
Fax: 2223.233

Past and Present Ordinaries

Louis Perera, O.M.I. † (5 Jan 1939 Appointed - 8 Apr 1939 Died)
Edmund Peiris, O.M.I. † (12 Jan 1940 Appointed - 27 Dec 1972 Resigned)
Frank Marcus Fernando † (27 Dec 1972 Succeeded - 19 Oct 2006 Retired)
Warnakulasurya Wadumestrige Devasritha Valence Mendis (19 Oct 2006 Succeeded - 9 Oct 2021 Appointed, Bishop of Kandy)
Arachchige Don Wimal Siri Appuhamy Jayasuriya (6 Dec 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
5 January 1939	Erected	Archdiocese of Colombo (North-Western Province)	Diocese of Chilaw (erected)
15 May 1987	Territory Lost	Diocese of Chilaw (Kurunegala)	Diocese of Kurunegala (erected)

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

1950 106,343 667,361 15.9% 43 5 48 2,215 33 158 29 ap1951

1969 189,689 1,156,367 16.4% 71 12 83 2,285 35 262 41 ap1971

1980 216,878 1,679,000 12.9% 71 10 81 2,677 28 232 51 ap1981

1990 203,095 597,000 34.0% 57 11 68 2,986 35 216 35 ap1991

1999 228,295 668,165 34.2% 76 11 87 2,624 30 229 40 ap2000

2000 230,473 676,498 34.1% 74 10 84 2,743 29 233 40 ap2001

2001 231,529 680,674 34.0% 72 10 82 2,823 27 239 40 ap2002

2002 232,825 684,103 34.0% 72 8 80 2,910 26 232 42 ap2003

2003 233,187 679,575 34.3% 64 12 76 3,068 27 223 43 ap2004

2004 231,205 679,113 34.0% 63 12 75 3,082 27 222 44 ap2005

2006 233,708 686,350 34.1% 71 14 85 2,749 57 183 44 ap2007

2013 272,692 788,000 34.6% 104 15 119 2,291 29 190 44 ap2014

2016 284,150 835,000 34.0% 120 22 142 2,001 33 202 48 ap2017

2019 296,850 885,600 33.5% 114 24 138 2,151 34 195 49 ap2020

2021 309,026 926,728 33.3% 115 25 140 2,207 36 194 49 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	106,343	667,361	15.9%	43	5	48	2,215	33	158	29	ap1951
1969	189,689	1,156,367	16.4%	71	12	83	2,285	35	262	41	ap1971
1980	216,878	1,679,000	12.9%	71	10	81	2,677	28	232	51	ap1981
1990	203,095	597,000	34.0%	57	11	68	2,986	35	216	35	ap1991
1999	228,295	668,165	34.2%	76	11	87	2,624	30	229	40	ap2000
2000	230,473	676,498	34.1%	74	10	84	2,743	29	233	40	ap2001
2001	231,529	680,674	34.0%	72	10	82	2,823	27	239	40	ap2002
2002	232,825	684,103	34.0%	72	8	80	2,910	26	232	42	ap2003
2003	233,187	679,575	34.3%	64	12	76	3,068	27	223	43	ap2004
2004	231,205	679,113	34.0%	63	12	75	3,082	27	222	44	ap2005
2006	233,708	686,350	34.1%	71	14	85	2,749	57	183	44	ap2007
2013	272,692	788,000	34.6%	104	15	119	2,291	29	190	44	ap2014
2016	284,150	835,000	34.0%	120	22	142	2,001	33	202	48	ap2017
2019	296,850	885,600	33.5%	114	24	138	2,151	34	195	49	ap2020
2021	309,026	926,728	33.3%	115	25	140	2,207	36	194	49	ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Frank Marcus Fernando † (Coadjutor Bishop: 8 Jun 1968; Bishop: 27 Dec 1972 to 19 Oct 2006)
Edmund Peiris, O.M.I. † (Bishop: 12 Jan 1940 to 27 Dec 1972)
Louis Perera, O.M.I. † (Bishop: 5 Jan 1939 to 8 Apr 1939)

Source(s)

Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 31, Page 156, to Page 158

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Diocese of Chilaw

Dioecesis Chilavensis