Our Lady of Lanka

Marian vocation of Tewatte (Sri Lanka)

La devoción a Our Lady of Lanka It is linked to the vote made by the Catholic bishops of the island during World War II: according to local tradition and the devotional memory of the sanctuary, they called for the protection of the Virgin for Sri Lanka, and in gratitude was promoted the entronization of this advocation as patron of the nation. The news source of AsiaNews recalls precisely the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of Our Lady of Lanka in Tewatta, which places this proclamation in 1974.

Main data

Origin and history

La devoción a Our Lady of Lanka It is linked to the vote made by the Catholic bishops of the island during World War II: according to local tradition and the devotional memory of the sanctuary, they called for the protection of the Virgin for Sri Lanka, and in gratitude was promoted the entronization of this advocation as patron of the nation. The news source of AsiaNews recalls precisely the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of Our Lady of Lanka in Tewatta, which places this proclamation in 1974.

In the documented history of the place, the present Tewatte temple is the National Basílica of Our Lady of Lanka, en Ragama / Watta, within the archdiocese of Colombo. The basilica is described by local and reference sources as National sanctuary y basilica; Wikipedia places it in Tewatte, Colombo, and presents it with these two titles, while the sanctuary and various information profiles identify it as the great Roman Catholic church of the place.

The image and the sanctuary

The advocation is venerated in the National Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka; in the sources consulted it is described as a Catholic church of Latin rite with status of basilica y National sanctuary. A detailed technical description of the headline image - material, author, dimensions, or precise iconography - is not safe in the sources collected, so such data should be given as no consta.

The building is officially known as Basílica of Our Lady of Lanka / National Basílica of Our Lady of Lanka, en Watta, Ragama. The sources of dissemination present it as an important Catholic pilgrimage centre in Sri Lanka, and the Catholic press itself treats it as a national sanctuary linked to diocesan and national celebrations.

Sponsorship and coronation

The patronage of this advocation is National: Our Lady of Lanka is venerated as patron of Sri Lanka and his sanctuary of Tewatte works as National sanctuary. There is no specific patronage of a city or diocese other than the national level.

In the sources consulted does not contain a documented canonical coronation for this advocation.

Party and devotion

The main celebration is held around the 11 February, date indicated by the Catholic press for the annual feast of Our Lady of Lanka in Tewatte. That proximity to the Marian calendar of Our Lady of Lourdes It also explains the strong Marian and pilgrim tone of the day, although the feast of Lanka itself maintains local and national identity.

The devotion is expressed above all in pilgrimages to the shrine of Tewatte, especially at the annual feast and at national graces. The available sources emphasize that it is a place of worship well known to the Catholics of the island and that it receives visitors and pilgrims for its historical and spiritual importance. The results do not contain reliable flow figures.

Link to the Rosary

The sources consulted do not contain a unique and exclusive historical link between Our Lady of Lanka and a concrete practice of the Rosary. However, like any Marian advocation of a national sanctuary, this devotion is fully understood on the horizon of Rosarywho looks at the mysteries of Christ with Mary and accompanies the plea of protection, gratitude and peace that characterize the great Marian shrines.