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Historic recognition opens new chapter for Adventist Church in Lanka

Published

3 months ago

2026/07/12

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sri Lanka has received official recognition as a Christian denomination on June 19. [Photo: Northern Asia-Pacific Division News]

(Adventist Today)After more than a century of ministry in Sri Lanka, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has received official government recognition as a Christian denomination, a milestone leaders say will strengthen the church’s legal standing and expand opportunities for mission.

According to an article in the NSD page, the recognition was granted June 19 by the Department of Christian Religious Affairs under the Ministry of Buddhism, Religious and Cultural Affairs, ending decades of efforts to secure official denominational status.

The Adventist Church has served Sri Lanka since 1904 through evangelism, education, health ministry, and humanitarian work. Despite its 122-year presence, the church previously operated under company registration rather than as a government-recognized Christian denomination, a distinction that complicated the establishment of new churches, limited access to legal protections and benefits available to recognized religious institutions, and at times prompted questions about its status from other Christian groups.

The formal registration process began in 2025. Ceylon Mission Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Director E. M. Bandara coordinated the application and worked closely with government officials throughout the review process, with support from the Northern Asia-Pacific Division.

“For 122 years our church leaders repeatedly tried to register the Seventh-day Adventist Church as a separate Christian denomination, but every attempt was unsuccessful. This lack of recognition affected many areas of our ministry,” Bandara said.

Bandara said the process gained momentum after a property dispute involving the Deniyaya Seventh-day Adventist Church in 2014. While seeking legal assistance, he established relationships with leaders in the Christian community and officials from the Department of Christian Religious Affairs, creating an avenue for continued dialogue about the church’s legal status.

“At first it was a process of seeking help to address the immediate problem. Through that experience, however, the church gained a way to continue dialogue with government officials,” he said.

Bandara said conversations with department officials eventually led to an invitation to submit a new application that met all government requirements.

“When I spoke about the possibility of registering our church, the director explained that many applications had not been approved because they failed to meet the required qualifications. She said, however, that if we submitted a complete application with all the necessary requirements, she would present it to the High Committee,” he said.

Following approval by the Ceylon Mission Executive Committee, the application was reviewed by the High Committee, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and other government agencies before receiving final approval.

“We thank God for opening a door that had remained closed for more than a century. This recognition is the result of the efforts of the entire church and a testimony to God’s leading,” Bandara said.

Church leaders said the recognition provides a stronger legal foundation for worship, church administration, evangelism, education, health ministry, humanitarian service, and media outreach. They added that it will also help the church establish new places of worship, strengthen cooperation with government agencies and community organizations, and support the expansion of Hope Channel Sri Lanka, Adventist World Radio, educational institutions, and health ministries as the church carries out its 2026–2030 Strategic Plan.

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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura

Published

9 hours ago

2026/09/26

Priyan

The National Building Research Institute has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura from 16:00 hrs on 25.09.2026 To 16:00 hrs on 26.09.2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Neluwa, Nagoda, Niyagama and Thawalama inthe Galle district, Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa and Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, and Kothmale West, Ambagamuwa, Kotmale East and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district.

LEVEL II [AMBER] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Elpitiya, Baddegama and Karandeniya in the Galle district, Walallawita in the Kalutara district, Deltota, Udunuwara, Gangawata Korale, Yatinuwara and Panvila in the Kandy district, Aranayake, Dehiowita, Mawanella, Deraniyagala and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district, Thalawakelle in the Nuwara Eliya district and Ratnapura and Pelmadulla in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colombo district, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Katuwana and Walasmulla in the Hambanthota district, Ingiriya and Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara district, Hatharaliyadda, Poojapitiya, Medadumbara, Kundasale, Ududumbara, Thumpane, Akurana, Pathadumbara, Harispattuwa and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Warakapola, Bulathkohupitiya, Galigamuwa, Kegalle and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Polgahawela and Mawathagama in the Kegalle district, Pitabeddara, Kotapola and Pasgoda in the Matara district, Nuwara Eliya in the Nuwara Eliya district and Elapatha, Ayagama, Nivithigala, Kuruwita and Kalawana in the Ratnapura district

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22A, Judicature Amendment Bills passed with 2/3 majority

Published

10 hours ago

2026/09/26

Thilina Walpola

Parliament yesterday passed the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill with two-thirds majorities, with 158 MPs voting in favour and 63 against each Bill.

The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) voted with the SJB against the Bills.

NDF MPs Ravi Karunanayake and Faizer Musthapha and SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilaka were not present when the votes were taken.

The final vote on the Judicature (Amendment) Bill was announced at around 8.08 p.m. after Opposition MPs called for divisions on its clauses during the Committee Stage.

The votes followed a two-day debate which commenced on Thursday (24), after Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented the Bills for their Second Reading.

The Supreme Court’s determination on the Bills was presented to Parliament on Tuesday (22) by Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne. The Court determined that the 22nd Amendment Bill did not require approval at a referendum and could be passed by a special two-thirds majority in Parliament.

The amendment provides for raising the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and that of Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65. It also provides for the Chief Justice to retire at 67 or after completing six years in office, whichever comes earlier.

The Speaker informed Parliament that the Judicature (Amendment) Bill could be passed by a simple majority.

The SJB opposed the legislation and its MPs attended Parliament dressed in black yesterday. The party also staged a protest at Polduwa Junction, Battaramulla, under the theme “No to 22, which destroys democracy”, with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several SJB politicians participating.

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TIN mandatory for key transactions from Nov. 1

Published

10 hours ago

2026/09/26

Thilina Walpola

A valid Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Certificate will be required for a range of key transactions in Sri Lanka from November 1, 2026, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has announced.

The requirement, introduced under the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act, No. 11 of 2026, applies to transactions specified under Section 102(3) of the Inland Revenue Act.

Accordingly, individuals will be required to produce a valid TIN Certificate when opening an account at a bank or financial institution, obtaining approval for a building plan, registering or renewing the licence of a motor vehicle, registering land or title to land, registering a business, transferring shares in a company incorporated in Sri Lanka or obtaining a credit card.

In the case of share transfers, both the transferor and transferee will be required to provide TIN certificates.

The IRD said officials handling such transactions had been instructed to ensure that a valid TIN Certificate was submitted before processing or completing the relevant transaction.

The Department advised those who do not already have a TIN to obtain one in advance through its e-Services platform.

It said a printout of the TIN verification result showing the applicant’s National Identity Card number and TIN could also be accepted instead of the certificate.The IRD also reiterated that obtaining a TIN is mandatory for resident individuals aged 18 and above under the applicable provisions.