{{Short description|Latin Catholic diocese in Sri Lanka}} {{More citations needed|date=August 2011}} {{Infobox diocese | jurisdiction = Diocese | name = Chilaw | latin = Dioecesis Chilavensis | local = சிலாபம் மறைமாவட்டம் | image = | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel | coat = <!-- Coat of arms file name (excluding File: prefix) --> | coat_size = | coat_alt = | flag = <!-- Flag file name (excluding File: prefix) --> | flag_size = | flag_alt = <!---- Locations ----> | country = Sri Lanka | territory = | province = Colombo | metropolitan = Colombo | archdeaconries = | deaneries = | subdivisions = | coordinates = <!-- Use {{coord}} --> <!---- Statistics ----> | area_km2 = 2,076 | area_sqmi = <!-- Area in square miles, automatically converted --> | area_footnotes = | population = 788,000 | population_as_of = 1235 | catholics = 272,692 | catholics_percent = 34.6 | parishes = <!-- Number of parishes in the diocese --> | churches = <!-- Number of churches in the diocese --> | congregations = <!-- Number of congregations in the diocese --> | schools = <!-- Number of church supported schools in the diocese --> | members = <!-- Number of members in the diocese --> <!---- Information ----> | denomination = Catholic Church | sui_iuris_church = Latin Church | rite = Roman Rite | established = 5 January 1939 | cathedral = Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Chilaw | cocathedral = | patron = Sacred Heart of Jesus | patron_title = <!-- Use to override the default label "Patron saint" --> | priests = <!-- Number of priests in the diocese --> <!---- Current leadership ----> | pope = {{Incumbent pope}} <!-- DO NOT CHANGE. This will update the Popes Automatically as they change --> | patriarch = | major_archbishop = | bishop = Arachchige Jayasuriya | bishop_title = <!-- Type of ordinary: i.e. Bishop or Archbishop. Default is Bishop --> | metro_archbishop = Malcolm Ranjith | coadjutor = | suffragans = <!-- List most senior first (usually reckoned by date of consecration); use | suffragan = for one --> | auxiliary_bishops = <!-- List most senior first (usually reckoned by date of consecration) --> | apostolic_admin = | vicar_general = Rev. Fr. Ashok Priyantha Perera | episcopal_vicar = Rev. Fr. Patrick Wijesinghe | archdeacons = <!-- List most senior first (usually reckoned by date of first collation); use | archdeacon = for one--> | emeritus_bishops = <!-- List most senior first (usually reckoned by date of consecration) --> <!---- Map ----> | map = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = <!---- Website ----> | website = chilawdiocese.org[https://chilawdiocese.org] | footnotes = }} The '''Diocese of Chilaw''' (Lat: ''Dioecesis Chilavensis'') is a diocese of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka.

Erected as the Diocese of Galle in 1939, the diocese is suffragan to the Archdiocese of Colombo. In 1995, part of the diocese was split off to form the Diocese of Kurunegala.

The current bishop is Don Wimal Siri Appuhamy Jayasuriya, who was appointed in December 2023.<ref>[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dchlw.html Diocese of Chilaw]</ref> [[File:ChilawKirche.jpg|thumb|left|St. Mary's Cathedral, Chilaw]] ==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) *Valence Mendis, (19 Oct 2006 Succeeded - 9 Oct 2021 Appointed, Bishop of Kandy)

==See also== *Catholic Church in Sri Lanka

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110629060512/https://chilawdiocese.org]

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Roman Catholic Diocese Of Chilaw}} Chilaw

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