Anecdotes about the Virgin Mary

"The vow that saved an island: Our Lady of Lanka"

Tewatte (Sri Lanka)

In Tewatte, near Ragama, in the Archdiocese of Colombo, stands the National Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka, a national shrine and center of devotion to the patron saint of Sri Lanka. Its origin is linked to one of the most moving chapters in the island's history of faith: a vow made during the darkest years of World War II.

When there was a real fear of an attack on what was then Ceylon, the Archbishop of Colombo—sources indicate Monsignor Jean-Marie Masson, OMI—made a vow to the Virgin Mary: if the country were spared the devastation of war, a great national shrine would be built in her honor under the title of Our Lady of Lanka. Once the war ended, the vow was fulfilled: the national shrine was erected in Tewatte, designed with strong references to the country's unique identity, featuring an image of the Virgin dressed in the local style, and dedicated as a center of Marian pilgrimage for the entire island.

Let us distinguish between documented evidence and the interpretation of faith. The existence of the basilica as a major national shrine, its connection to the vow made during World War II, and the veneration of Our Lady of Lanka as the country's patroness are attested to by Sri Lankan ecclesiastical sources. The interpretation of the island's preservation as a miraculous intervention, however, belongs to the people's interpretation of faith. Furthermore, it is important to be cautious with dates: lacking a comprehensive official document in Spanish, the precise start of construction, the consecration, and the eventual elevation to basilica status are not recorded, although these events are clearly present in local pastoral practice.

The most beautiful aspect of the sanctuary is its unifying value: each pilgrimage is a grateful remembrance of the island's protection, and Sinhalese and Tamils come together for its major festivals as a sign of national reconciliation, leaving votive offerings and gifts. The Rosary is one of the customary prayers during Marian vigils and pilgrimages, according to pastoral materials and the testimonies of the faithful; the bond is spiritual and pastoral, rather than legal, and there is no record of a decree formally establishing it.