Diocese of Chilaw

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Bishop(s) Warnakulasurya Wadumestrige Devasritha Valence Mendis, Bishop Frank Marcus Fernando, Bishop Emeritus

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Erected: 5 January 1939 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Colombo Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Sri Lanka Square Kilometers: 2,976 (1,149 Square Miles) Mailing Address: Bishop's House, Chilaw, Sri Lanka Telephone: (032)223.32; 233.77 Fax: 232.33

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Louis Perera, O.M.I. † (5 Jan 1939 Appointed - 8 Apr 1939 Died)
• Edmund Peiris, O.M.I. † (12 Jan 1940 Appointed - 27 Dec 1972 Resigned)
• Frank Marcus Fernando (27 Dec 1972 Succeeded - 19 Oct 2006 Retired)
• Warnakulasurya Wadumestrige Devasritha Valence Mendis (19 Oct 2006 Succeeded - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
5 January 1939	Erected		Diocese of Chilaw (erected)
15 May 1987	Territory Lost	Diocese of Chilaw	Diocese of Kurunegala (erected)

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Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	106,343	667,361	15.9%	43	5	48	2,215		33	158	29	ap1951
1969	189,689	1,156,367	16.4%	71	12	83	2,285		35	262	41	ap1971
1980	216,878	1,679,000	12.9%	71	10	81	2,677		28	232	51	ap1981
1990	203,095	597,000	34.0%	57	11	68	2,986		35	216	35	ap1991
1999	228,295	668,165	34.2%	76	11	87	2,624		30	229	40	ap2000
2000	230,473	676,498	34.1%	74	10	84	2,743		29	233	40	ap2001
2001	231,529	680,674	34.0%	72	10	82	2,823		27	239	40	ap2002
2002	232,825	684,103	34.0%	72	8	80	2,910		26	232	42	ap2003
2003	233,187	679,575	34.3%	64	12	76	3,068		27	223	43	ap2004
2004	231,205	679,113	34.0%	63	12	75	3,082		27	222	44	ap2005

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

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Affiliated Bishops

• Frank Marcus Fernando (Coadjutor Bishop: 8 Jun 1968; Bishop: 27 Dec 1972 to 19 Oct 2006)
• Warnakulasurya Wadumestrige Devasritha Valence Mendis (Priest: 20 Jul 1985; Coadjutor Bishop: 17 Jan 2005; Bishop: 19 Oct 2006)
• Edmund Peiris, O.M.I. † (Bishop: 12 Jan 1940 to 27 Dec 1972)
• Louis Perera, O.M.I. † (Bishop: 5 Jan 1939 to 8 Apr 1939)