Changes in Ecclesiastical Jurisdictionsin Sri Lanka | ![]() |
| Date | Change |
| 1834.12.03 | Apostolic Vicariate of Ceylon was established (from Diocese of Cochin) |
| 1845.02.17 | Apostolic Vicariate of Ceylon was renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Colombo (lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Jaffna) |
| 1845.02.17 | Apostolic Vicariate of Jaffna was established (from Apostolic Vicariate of Ceylon) |
| 1883.04.20 | Apostolic Vicariate of Kandy was established (from Apostolic Vicariate of Colombo) |
| 1886.09.01 | Apostolic Vicariate of Colombo was promoted as Archdiocese of Colombo |
| 1886.09.01 | Apostolic Vicariate of Jaffna was promoted as Diocese of Jaffna |
| 1886.09.01 | Apostolic Vicariate of Kandy was promoted as Diocese of Kandy |
| 1887.06.07 | Archdiocese of Colombo was promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo (with suffragan sees Jaffna and Kandy) |
| 1893.08.25 | Diocese of Galle was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo and became suffragan of Colombo) |
| 1893.08.25 | Diocese of Trincomalee was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo and Diocese of Jaffna and became suffragan of Colombo) |
| 1939.01.05 | Diocese of Chilaw was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo and became suffragan of Colombo) |
| 1944.12.06 | Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo was renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo in Ceylon |
| 1954.06.14 | Diocese of Kandy lost territory to Diocese of Trincomalee |
| 1967.10.23 | Diocese of Trincomalee was renamed as Diocese of Trincomalee–Batticaloa |
| 1972.05.22 | Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo in Ceylon was renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo |
| 1972.12.18 | Diocese of Badulla was established (from Diocese of Kandy and became suffragan of Colombo) |
| 1975.12.19 | Apostolic Prefecture of Anuradhapura was established (from Diocese of Jaffna and Diocese of Trincomalee–Batticaloa and became suffragan of Colombo) |
| 1981.01.24 | Diocese of Mannar was established (from Diocese of Jaffna and became suffragan of Colombo) |
| 1982.03.18 | Apostolic Prefecture of Anuradhapura was promoted as Diocese of Anuradhapura |
| 1987.05.15 | Diocese of Kurunegala was established (from Diocese of Chilaw and became suffragan of Colombo) |
| 1995.11.02 | Diocese of Ratnapura was established (from Diocese of Galle and became suffragan of Colombo) |
| 2012.07.03 | Diocese of Batticaloa was established (from Diocese of Trincomalee–Batticaloa and became suffragan of Colombo) |
| 2012.07.03 | Diocese of Trincomalee–Batticaloa was renamed as Diocese of Trincomalee (lost territory to establish Diocese of Batticaloa) |
Last updated on 2025.09.19
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