Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka
The Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka ( Lankaway Api Swamiduwagay Basilikawa) is a Roman Catholic church with basilica status in Tewatte, Sri Lanka. Being thus in a somewhat distant suburb of Colombo, it comes under the purview of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo and is a site of pilgrimage for Sri Lankan Catholics. The church is home to the venerated statue of Our Lady of Lanka.
This church bea historical story. When the time of the second world war, Sri lanka was involved because ceylon was under the British Government. Sri Lanka got attacked and bombs were thrown from air planes for certain places of the country. All the Sri Lankans were terrified and as a small country there was nothing to do about it. All they can do was praying for their gods.
Archbishop Masson made a vow that if then Ceylon was protected from major conflict, he would build a Votive Basilica under the title Our Lady of Lanka. His wish came true and Ceylon was indeed spared from any major warfare. Archbishop Masson obtained approval from Pope Pius XII for the construction of a basilica in honour of Our Lady of Lanka.
On February 4, 1950 the cornerstone for the basilica was laid. Construction was done with great care and creativity for many years. It was completed in 1974, a year after Pope Paul VI endowed the church with the title of Minor Basilica.
This church bea historical story. When the time of the second world war, Sri lanka was involved because ceylon was under the British Government. Sri Lanka got attacked and bombs were thrown from air planes for certain places of the country. All the Sri Lankans were terrified and as a small country there was nothing to do about it. All they can do was praying for their gods.
Archbishop Masson made a vow that if then Ceylon was protected from major conflict, he would build a Votive Basilica under the title Our Lady of Lanka. His wish came true and Ceylon was indeed spared from any major warfare. Archbishop Masson obtained approval from Pope Pius XII for the construction of a basilica in honour of Our Lady of Lanka.
On February 4, 1950 the cornerstone for the basilica was laid. Construction was done with great care and creativity for many years. It was completed in 1974, a year after Pope Paul VI endowed the church with the title of Minor Basilica.
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