St. Mary’s Cathedral, Jaffna

St. Mary’s Cathedral

St. Mary’s Cathedral is situated in Jaffna in Sri Lanka. This cathedral is quiet huge and stunning. It is also named as “Periye Kovil”. The cathedral looks quite astonishing with its gold color sparkling in the air.

About the St. Mary’s Cathedral

St. Mary’s Cathedral is situated in Old Park road in Jaffna. It is a famous cathedral among the Catholics. Something interesting to see here is the corrugated-iron roofing held up by such a masterpiece down by a talented person in the past.

The legend behind St. Mary’s Cathedral

There is a legend that states that there was a Jaffna king who had a son. The name of the king was Cankili and his so-called son converted himself into a strong Roman Catholic. In his flaming anger, his father killed him on this spot where the church is built today. The prince’s ashes were buried here and thus the cathedral was built.

The construction of the St. Mary’s Cathedral started in 1789 and finished it in 1794.

How to Reaching the St. Mary’s Cathedral

From Colombo

Take Colombo – Katunayake Expressway. Take Kandy Road, Kandy – Jaffna Highway to Karadippokku-Uruththirapuram Road. Take Parantan-Pooneryn Road. Turn left at Central Finance Company PLC onto Press Road.

From Jaffna

Head southwest toward Hospital Street. Turn left at CBM BANKING CLASS onto Kovil Road. Turn left at Muthiah Bake House onto Kandy Road. Turn right at Central Finance Company PLC onto Press Road.