Sri Lanka

Methodist Church Sri Lanka

The Methodist Church Sri Lanka is guided by its vision of ‘Becoming Disciples – Making Disciples’. This vision is structures around five areas:

• Renewing Christian commitment of the ‘people called Methodists’ and reviving the congregational life of Methodist societies.
• Empowering every Methodist and Methodist congregations to live and witness to the Gospel in word and deed.
• Being a catalyst for peace, reconciliation and community integration.
• Evolving a viable organizational structure, for an effective mission of the church.
• Maximising use of resources, generating income and ensuring effective stewardship.

The Church operates within a complex religious and social landscape, shaped by four major faiths—Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity—and decades of religio-linguistic nationalism.

Since independence in 1948, tensions between Sinhala Buddhist dominance and minority groups culminated in a 30-year civil war, leaving deep societal scars. In response, the Methodist Church has become a strong advocate for peace, reconciliation, and interfaith dialogue whilst addressing issues of religious freedom, democracy and human rights.

The Methodist Church has the unique feature of having all linguistic and ethnic communities in its fold, namely Sinhalese, Tamil and Burghers, and so is well placed to proclaim unity.

Methodist mission began in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in 1814, with the arrival of a team of missionaries sent by the British Conference.

Despite the death of Rev. Thomas Coke en route, the remaining team established churches, schools, and printing presses across the island.

The Pettah Methodist Church in Colombo, built in 1815, remains the oldest Methodist church in Asia.

The Church pioneered education and at one time ran approximately 180 schools which have since been taken over by the government.

It has also contributed to healthcare, vocational training and social services.

At the 150th anniversary, in 1964, the Conference of the Methodist Church Sri Lanka received its full autonomy.

At its 200 year anniversary, Revd Albert Jebanesan of the Methodist Church Sri Lanka produced the following video outlining the first 200 years of the Methodist Church Sri Lanka.