ST. ANNE’S CHURCH – THALAWILA

 
As for the Catholic doctrine, St. Anne was the mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus.
 

St. Anne’s church is one of the ancient shrines in Sri Lanka that offer devotion & love by Catholic people and other religiousness. It is located near Kalpitiya beach that surrounded by a land of sand and this graceful environment brings calm, mental independence & health, happiness, and devotion to people who visit there. As for the Catholic belief, they pray for St. Anne to be intervened in their prayer and most of them visit again to prove their vows.
 

  

There are two chronicles associated with the Thalawila shrine and the first one is in the 17th century. A poor Portuguese person journeyed from Mannar to Colombo to get a livelihood but he has failed and returned to his hometown. When he was on the way by the coast, fell asleep under a big tree. When he was asleep, he saw a dream it was an image in the bottom of the tree, with lighted tapers burning on each side. Suddenly when he waked up, he saw with astonishment that St. Anne’s statue is there. So, later he built a small church at the same place and offered it to St. Anne. 
 

  

The other chronicle is that in the early half of the 18th century. A European trade ship dedicated to St. Anne was shipwrecked near the coast of Thalawila. The place that they landed wasn’t a suitable place to rest so, the captain decided to lodge under a big Banyan tree that had nearby. They had a St. Anne’s statue in their possession and Captain placed it in the tree. He was vowing to return again and build a church if his business prospered. The European trader obviously met with success as he desired, and kept his word by building a church at the place where the statue of St. Anne stood in its glory.
 

  

The lighthouse and the church cross are a signpost for the fishing community. The sacred ground is also shaded by large Banyan trees, Palm trees, Kohomba trees, other trees, and the thorny bushes add to its beauty. Devotees who come to the church have wells to drink and bathe in, and although the water is close to the sea, but it is amazing that it is less brackish. Devotees stay in houses built with minimal amenities, but the time spent preparing food and walking in the sanctum sanctorum is a great relief to the mind.
 

  

Distance from Colombo to Thalawila – 154.5 km
Time to travel – 3hr 31 min