If you are someone who goes to Victoria/ Digana from Kandy, I hope you have noticed the little picturesque blue church. It’s opposite the Earl’s Regency Hotel, just over the bridge crossing Mahaweli River. On four occasions we have driven to the gates at the front of the amazing little church, but the gate has always been locked. This time Amresh says the notice says “access at the rear”. He is a good Kandy St Thomas boy of the 1970s, quite bright in those days.
Down a few alleyways we arrive at the church complex with a school, houses and walk to find we are the back of the blue church.
The church looks old from a distance, on checking it out we find it was opened in the 1950s.
Back in 1917 in a place called Fatima in Portugal three children of local farmers met Fatima or as we would call her “Mary the mother of Christ”. Mary visiting the place and the children has become of religious importance. A small basilica was built on the site and it became a Christian sanctuary.
There are a number of plaques around the blue church of Kandy. On closer investigation it is a simply built church on the Fatima church design, but in a commanding location next to the river.
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2 thoughts on “The Blue Church of Our Lady of Fatima”
My parental home is in this neighborhood. I was born in the church nursing home. St Bernard’s nursing home. Now it’s not there any more. The church was in few films too. The church faces old Kandy Digana road which went under water due to Mahaweli project. That’s the main gate and then the access is now from rear thru a long narrow lane.
There is lot of history to this church. If you need more infor I can help you.
I think it is very much a gratitude to remember the person who has been initiated to built the church as far back as 1950. If I am correct it was Mr. Blavendran Viswasampillai Chief benefactor) who lived in his bungalow where now the Kandos factory is. I think there was one more person Mr.Soysa too involved in this matter, if I am correct. To tell you the fact I was an acholite in the church in 1954 under Fr.Dom George. O. S. B. Who was attached to Kandy cathedral. This is only for your information,please.