Chronology of Catholic Dioceses:Sri Lanka

See a list of abbreviations used in this list. See also our listing of current ecclesial jurisdictions.

1514: Funchal (established by the Portuguese, see footnote) - Portugal
1533: Goa (established from Funchal) - India
1558: Cochin (detached from Goa) - India
1834: Ceylon (AV, detached from Cochin) - Sri Lanka
1845: Colombo (AV, new name, previously Ceylon AV) - Sri Lanka
1845: Jaffna (AV, detached from Ceylon AV) - Sri Lanka
1883: Kandy (AV, detached from Colombo) - Sri Lanka
1886: Colombo (Metr.) - Sri Lanka
1886: Jaffna - Sri Lanka
1886: Kandy - Sri Lanka
1893: Galle (detached from Colombo) - Sri Lanka
1893: Trincomalee (detached from Jaffna, and from Colombo) - Sri Lanka
1939: Chilaw (detached from Colombo) - Sri Lanka
1944: Colombo in Ceylon (new name, previously Colombo) - Sri Lanka
1967: Trincomalee-Batticaloa (new name, previously Trincomalee) - Sri Lanka
1972: Colombo (Metr., new name, previously Colombo in Ceylon) - Sri Lanka
1972: Badulla (detached from Kandy) - Sri Lanka
1975: Anuradhapura (AP, detached from Jaffna, and from Trincomalee-Batticaloa) - Sri Lanka
1981: Mannar (detached from Jaffna) - Sri Lanka
1982: Anuradhapura - Sri Lanka
1987: Kurunegala (detached from Chilaw) - Sri Lanka
1995: Ratnapura (detached from Galle) - Sri Lanka