Western 752,993 Northern 204,005 Eastern 80,801 | North Western 300,367 Central 90,519 | |
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Christianity is a minority religion in Sri Lanka. Christianity was introduced to the island in first century, probably in AD 72. There is a claim that after Thomas the Apostle’s visit in Kerala in AD 52, Christianity was introduced via India due to its close geographical and commercial ties. According to Christian traditions, the apostle Thomas preached the Gospel in Sri Lanka Records suggest that St. Thomas Christians and Nestorian Christians lived in Sri Lanka. Anuradhapura cross is one of the archaeological claims that suggest Christianity in Sri Lanka before Portuguese. Roman Catholicism was introduced by the Portuguese in 1505. There were conversions by Dutch persons in the 17th century, which resulted in a percentage of church members in excess of 10%. The Christian population of Sri Lanka includes members of both the Sinhalese and Tamil ethnic groups.
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Roman Catholic Church
6.19% of the population (1,261,194 persons) are Roman Catholic as per the 2012 census. Catholicism was first introduced by the Portuguese, who left a notable mark in the continued use of Portuguese surnames even today by many Catholics. Dutch missionaries tried to spread Protestantism after the Portuguese were expelled, however today most Sri Lankan Christians are Catholics. There is a Roman Catholic archbishop and 11 other Roman Catholic bishops. The eleven dioceses are:
- Diocese of Anuradhapura
- Diocese of Badulla
- Diocese of Batticaloa
- Diocese of Chilaw
- Diocese of Galle
- Diocese of Jaffna
- Diocese of Kandy
- Diocese of Kurunegala
- Diocese of Mannar
- Diocese of Ratnapura
- Diocese of Trincomalee
Protestants
290,967 persons in Sri Lanka (1.43%) are Protestants as per the 2012 census. The Ceylon Pentecostal Mission has about 16,500 church members and 70 churches (faith homes) in Sri Lanka. There are about 2000 people (1998) affiliated with congregations belonging to the Baptist World Alliance. The Lanka Lutheran Church has about 1,200 members. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims 1,200 members in Sri Lanka.
The main Protestant churches in Sri Lanka are Anglican, Methodist, Baptist and Salvation Army. The Church of Ceylon is an extra-provincial Anglican church, while the Church of South India (a united church of Anglicans, Presbyterians, and other Protestants) is a full member of the Anglican Communion and has a diocese in Jaffna. The Anglican Church has a strong effect on people in some areas. Methodist missionaries established 187 schools of which only 2 remains (Wesley College and Methodist College) because all the other schools were taken over by the government. Methodism has over 40,000 followers in Sri Lanka with 45 circuits, 200 churches and 120 pastors. Moratuwa Area and Kutunayake Negombo Areas are the regions where many Methodists live. In 2005 and 2006 the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka had a very difficult time during a period of anti-Christian violence.
St. Andrew's Church in Colombo is a congregation of the Church of Scotland. For administrative purposes it is part of the Church of Scotland's Presbytery of Europe.
As per 2002 year book of Jehovah's Witnesses there are around 4,019 active members in Sri Lanka.