National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka

National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka (Sinhala: ලංකා අප ස්වාමිදුවගේ ජාතික සෙමනේරිය) is a Roman Catholic Seminary situated in Ampitiya, Kandy, Sri Lanka. It was established in 1955 from the Papal Seminary buildings after the Papal Seminary was transferred from Kandy to Pune, India.[4] Many priests, even from the Archdiocese of Colombo, serve here.[5]

For the prior seminary that constructed and operated in the buildings, see Papal Seminary.

National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka
Sinhala: ලංකා අප ස්වාමිදුවගේ ජාතික සෙමනේරිය
Old chapel and new buildings at the National Seminary
Motto
Latin: Parare Plebem Perfectam
Motto in English
To prepare perfect people
TypeRoman Catholic Seminary
Established1955 (1955)
AffiliationChristianity
Religious affiliation
Roman catholic
Academic affiliations
Philosophy
Theology
ChairmanWinston Fernando[1]
RectorExpeditus Jayakody
DirectorP. Christunayagam[2]
Students280
Location
Kandy[3]
,
Central Province
,
Sri Lanka

7.28217°N 80.65508°E / 7.28217; 80.65508
LanguageEnglish
Sinhala
Latin

The National Seminary was entrusted to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate who were already instructing priests at St. Bernard's Seminary, Colombo. The first academic year of the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka commenced on 10 September 1955.

Background
Further information: Papal Seminary

In 1890, as per the request of Pope Leo XIII, Monsignor Ladislaus Zaleski started exploring the possibility of a Papal Seminary for India, Burma and Ceylon. Zaleski took up residence in Kandy, and chose an upland known as Ampitiya, that overlooks the Dumbara Valley. The Papal Seminary was established in 1893. It was one of the first major seminaries to be supported by the Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle.

St. Xavier's Capel, Papal Seminary, Ceylon

Establishment
St. Xavier's Chapel in the National Seminary 2022

After the Papal Seminary was moved to Pune, India, the former buildings became the home to the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka in 1955. The administration was entrusted to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate who were already instructing priests at St. Bernard's Seminary, Colombo. The first academic year of the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka commenced on 10 September 1955.[6]

References
  1. Today, Ceylon (14 June 2022). "Silver Jubilee of Bishop of Badulla Most Rev. J. Winston Fernando SSS".
  2. "Workshop organized under the guidance of Director of the Faculty of Philosophy, National Seminary, Rev. Fr. P. Christunayagam - PDF Download".
  3. Location of The National Seminary
  4. "Ampitiya Seminary: In the serene hills overlooking the Dumbara valley". Sunday Observer. 12 December 2020.
  5. "Priest - Archdiocese of Colombo Sri Lanka". archdioceseofcolombo.lk.
  6. "Archives of The National Seminary's history". Archived from the original on 13 July 2017.
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