extrachristianity

Early Christianity In Sri Lanka

There is strong evidence today that St. Thomas the Apostle who arrived in India in AD 52 did actually preach in Sri Lanka. By tradition, it is alleged that he was killed in India, stabbed with a spear sometime around AD 72. More authentic details are available in the Thoma Paedia by Prof.George Menacherry and in the following two books: Fatilidade Historica de Ceylao by Riberio and A history of the Catholic Church by Fr. Gnana Prakasar.

According to tradition however, the stone “footprint” atop Adam’s Peak, the highest point of Sri Lanka, is that of the Apostle. More sound proof of early Christian development comes in the form of Cosmas Indicopleustes who, writing around AD 547, knew of Christians in “Taprobane”, which is Sri Lanka. Prof.Somaratne accepts the writings of Indicopleustes contained in Topographica Christiana as authentic. Similarly, the Story of Sigiri- Sri Lanka’s royal chronicle- suggests that foreign Christians were present in 473. There is evidence that King Mugalan who succeeded his brother Kasyapa was a Christian, and so was his Minister Migara. Please also refer to Mugalan Siritha, Salamevan siritha , Suwarnapura Wansaya and Prof.Paranavithana's "The story of Sigiriya".