St. Anne's Church, Thalawila
One of Sri Lanka's most important Catholic shrines, on the Kalpitiya peninsula, whose feast on 26 July draws huge crowds of pilgrims from across the island.
St. Anne's Church at Thalawila, on the sea side of the Kalpitiya peninsula, is one of the most important Catholic shrines in Sri Lanka. Pilgrims from every part of the country, and people of other faiths too, come to pray before the statue of St. Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary, and to ask for blessings for their families, their health and their crops.
The church has a long history of devotion, and many local stories tell of the discovery of the statue and the miracles linked to it. Today the shrine is a large white church set in wide grounds by the sea, with space for the crowds that arrive at feast time.
The biggest event is the annual feast, which ends on 26 July, St. Anne's day, with a smaller feast earlier in the year. During the feast, the whole area becomes a festival, with huge numbers of pilgrims, processions, stalls and special transport, and the roads can be closed or very slow. If you visit at that time, expect crowds and plan well ahead. The rest of the year, the church is calm, peaceful and easy to visit.
Dress respectfully, with shoulders and knees covered, keep your voice low inside, and ask before photographing people at prayer. Thalawila Beach, right in front of the church, is a lovely place for a walk afterwards, especially at sunset. The church is also an easy stop on the way to the Dutch Fort or a dolphin watching trip.
At a glance
- Entry fee: Free
- Opening hours: Open daily, with regular services. Check feast times locally.
- Time needed: 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Best time: Early morning or late afternoon outside the feast period, or late July for the feast
How to get there
In Thalawila, on the sea side of the Kalpitiya peninsula, about 30 minutes from Kalpitiya town by tuk tuk.