Diocese of Trincomalee-Batticaloa

Dioecesis Trincomaliensis-Batticaloaensis

Bishop(s)

Joseph Kingsley Swampillai, Bishop
Joseph Ponniah, Auxiliary Bishop
Leo Rajendram Antony, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 23 October 1967
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Colombo
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Sri Lanka
Square Kilometers: 8,397 (3,243 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.trincobattidiocese.com/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 43, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka
Telephone: (065)2222.723
Fax: 2224.667

Historical Details

Diocese of Trincomalee
- Latin Name: Trincomaliensis
- Erected: 25 August 1893
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Colombo in Ceylon
- Country: Sri Lanka

Past and Present Ordinaries

Charles Lavigne, S.J. † (27 Aug 1898 Appointed - 11 Jul 1913 Died)
Gaston Robichez, S.J. † (22 Mar 1917 Appointed - 12 Feb 1946 Died)
Ignatius Philip Trigueros Glennie, S.J. † (10 Jul 1947 Appointed - 15 Feb 1974 Resigned)
Leo Rajendram Antony (15 Feb 1974 Succeeded - 17 Mar 1983 Resigned)
Joseph Kingsley Swampillai (17 Mar 1983 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Trincomalee
25 August 1893	Erected		Diocese of Trincomalee (erected)
Diocese of Trincomalee-Batticaloa
23 October 1967	Name Changed	Diocese of Trincomalee	Diocese of Trincomalee-Batticaloa
19 December 1975	Territory Lost	Diocese of Jaffna Diocese of Trincomalee-Batticaloa	Prefecture Apostolic of Anuradhapura (erected)

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

Diocese of Trincomalee

1950 18,014 296,000 6.1% 14 19 33 545 55 71 13 ap1951

Diocese of Trincomalee-Batticaloa

1970 35,946 680,000 5.3% 30 26 56 641 53 76 20 ap1971

1980 43,600 813,000 5.4% 27 23 50 872 50 70 26 ap1981

1990 54,559 1,096,000 5.0% 30 17 47 1,160 1 52 69 32 ap1991

1999 67,546 1,423,857 4.7% 31 12 43 1,570 44 102 29 ap2000

2000 68,800 1,443,790 4.8% 32 11 43 1,600 43 102 29 ap2001

2001 70,671 1,464,003 4.8% 39 16 55 1,284 45 102 29 ap2002

2002 60,464 1,484,499 4.1% 36 20 56 1,079 39 106 29 ap2003

2003 65,187 1,499,343 4.3% 43 20 63 1,034 44 102 30 ap2004

2004 62,078 1,514,336 4.1% 43 15 58 1,070 41 108 31 ap2005

2010 78,518 1,607,865 4.9% 46 25 71 1,105 40 108 35 ap2011

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Trincomalee
1950	18,014	296,000	6.1%	14	19	33	545		55	71	13	ap1951
Diocese of Trincomalee-Batticaloa
1970	35,946	680,000	5.3%	30	26	56	641		53	76	20	ap1971
1980	43,600	813,000	5.4%	27	23	50	872		50	70	26	ap1981
1990	54,559	1,096,000	5.0%	30	17	47	1,160	1	52	69	32	ap1991
1999	67,546	1,423,857	4.7%	31	12	43	1,570		44	102	29	ap2000
2000	68,800	1,443,790	4.8%	32	11	43	1,600		43	102	29	ap2001
2001	70,671	1,464,003	4.8%	39	16	55	1,284		45	102	29	ap2002
2002	60,464	1,484,499	4.1%	36	20	56	1,079		39	106	29	ap2003
2003	65,187	1,499,343	4.3%	43	20	63	1,034		44	102	30	ap2004
2004	62,078	1,514,336	4.1%	43	15	58	1,070		41	108	31	ap2005
2010	78,518	1,607,865	4.9%	46	25	71	1,105		40	108	35	ap2011

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Leo Rajendram Antony (Coadjutor Bishop: 18 Dec 1972; Bishop: 15 Feb 1974 to 17 Mar 1983)
Joseph Ponniah (Priest: 30 Apr 1980; Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Feb 2008)
Joseph Kingsley Swampillai (Bishop: 17 Mar 1983 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Jacob Bastiampillai Deogupillai † (Auxiliary Bishop: 9 Feb 1967 to 18 Dec 1972)
Ignatius Philip Trigueros Glennie, S.J. † (Bishop: 10 Jul 1947 to 15 Feb 1974)
Charles Lavigne, S.J. † (Bishop: 27 Aug 1898 to 11 Jul 1913)
Gaston Robichez, S.J. † (Bishop: 22 Mar 1917 to 12 Feb 1946)