Diocese of Mannar

Dioecesis Mannarensis

Bishop(s)

Gnanapragasam Anthonypillai, Bishop-Elect
Fidelis Lionel Emmanuel Fernando, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 24 January 1981
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Colombo
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Sri Lanka
Square Kilometers: 3,998 (1,544 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.mannardiocese.org/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, Pattim, 41000 Mannar, Sri Lanka
Telephone: (023)2222.710
Fax: 2222.709

Past and Present Ordinaries

Thomas Emmanuel Savundaranayagam (24 Jan 1981 Appointed - 6 Jul 1992 Appointed, Bishop of Jaffna)
Rayappu Joseph † (6 Jul 1992 Appointed - 14 Jan 2016 Retired)
Fidelis Lionel Emmanuel Fernando (22 Nov 2017 Appointed - 14 Dec 2024 Retired)
Gnanapragasam Anthonypillai (14 Dec 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
24 January 1981	Erected	Diocese of Jaffna (Mannar and Vavuniya)	Diocese of Mannar (erected)

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

1990 66,968 240,256 27.9% 19 7 26 2,575 12 70 19 ap1991

1999 68,885 234,635 29.4% 32 7 39 1,766 8 101 25 ap2000

2000 68,221 281,827 24.2% 31 11 42 1,624 16 114 23 ap2001

2001 73,402 235,900 31.1% 32 21 53 1,384 27 113 25 ap2002

2002 74,605 230,000 32.4% 33 18 51 1,462 27 110 27 ap2003

2003 73,060 212,852 34.3% 34 17 51 1,432 25 110 27 ap2004

2004 73,977 219,633 33.7% 40 11 51 1,450 19 108 28 ap2005

2013 89,516 270,375 33.1% 55 32 87 1,028 47 183 34 ap2014

2016 84,376 347,732 24.3% 65 35 100 843 54 188 39 ap2017

2019 88,112 388,960 22.7% 65 35 100 881 52 162 46 ap2020

2021 91,007 415,712 21.9% 69 1 70 1,300 20 181 49 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1990	66,968	240,256	27.9%	19	7	26	2,575	12	70	19	ap1991
1999	68,885	234,635	29.4%	32	7	39	1,766	8	101	25	ap2000
2000	68,221	281,827	24.2%	31	11	42	1,624	16	114	23	ap2001
2001	73,402	235,900	31.1%	32	21	53	1,384	27	113	25	ap2002
2002	74,605	230,000	32.4%	33	18	51	1,462	27	110	27	ap2003
2003	73,060	212,852	34.3%	34	17	51	1,432	25	110	27	ap2004
2004	73,977	219,633	33.7%	40	11	51	1,450	19	108	28	ap2005
2013	89,516	270,375	33.1%	55	32	87	1,028	47	183	34	ap2014
2016	84,376	347,732	24.3%	65	35	100	843	54	188	39	ap2017
2019	88,112	388,960	22.7%	65	35	100	881	52	162	46	ap2020
2021	91,007	415,712	21.9%	69	1	70	1,300	20	181	49	ap2022