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The
Thewatte
Basilica
Shrine
is
a
religious
place
for
Roman
Catholic
believers.
It
is
a
church
with
a
peaceful
environment
and
a
large
area
located
in
Ragama,
Sri
Lanka.
This
Shrine
is
a
popular
destination
for
a
large
number
of
devotees
who
come
from
far
and
wide
to
visit
this
sacred
place.
The
Shrine
was
built
after
the
2nd
world
war
as
a
gratitude
to
Mother
Mary
for
her
intercession
in
protecting
Sri
Lanka
from
the
acts
of
war.
It
is
a
tranquil
place
to
visit,
meditate,
and
venerate.
According
to
sources
close
to
the
temple,
the
Great
Sacrifice
performed
with
the
blessings
of
the
Mother
of
God
helps
to
heal
many
patients.
The
Goddess
who
resides
in
this
church
has
been
blessed
to
bring
sorrow
to
the
hearts
of
other
devotees
and
to
fulfill
their
wishes
and
achieve
victory.
The
church
celebrates
its
feast
on
the
4th
of
February
(independence
day
of
Sri
Lanka).
In
August,
they
organize
another
special
prayer
event
for
those
who
are
sick.
People
come
and
pray
for
all
physical
and
mental
illnesses
of
their
relatives,
friends,
and
loved
ones
during
that
time.
The
Basilica
is
one
of
the
largest
RC
churches
in
Sri
Lanka
and
was
completed
in
1974.
The
architecture
of
the
Basilica
is
a
charming
mix
of
local
and
traditional
architecture.
The
front
porch
of
the
basilica
is
supported
by
six
Grecian
looking
pillars,
to
commemorate
the
number
of
dioceses
in
Sri
Lanka
during
the
Second
World
War.
The
porch
is
crowned
by
a
two-dimensional
flame
like
design,
the
center
of
which
is
hollow.
That
hollow
circle
is
set
with
glass
panes
pieced
into
an
intriguing
spider’s
web;
and
at
the
center
of
the
web
is
a
cross
bearing
the
figure
of
Christ.
This
bronze
figurine
was
sculpted
by
the
Sri
Lankan
artist,
Leila
Peiris.
The
glass
panels
and
the
cross
front
a
high
arched
corridor
with
a
ribbed
roof
reminiscent
of
the
entrance
of
the
Ajanta
caves
in
India.
On
both
sides
of
the
roof
rise
two
spires
on
top
golden
cupola-like
bell
enclosures.
These
resemble
modern
Hindu
Temple
gopurams.
The
central
dome
has
the
typical
Eastern
Oriental
Church
cross
featuring
three
horizontal
bars.
The
cruciform
adjoins
the
semicircular
roofs
of
the
Basilica’s
extensions,
which
are
made
of
aluminum,
and
painted
a
tranquil
blue.
The
history
of
the
church
dates
back
to
1911
when
it
was
a
tiny
chapel
dedicated
to
Our
Lady
of
Lourdes.
Over
time,
it
became
more
popular
as
the
local
Hindus
and
Buddhists
started
attending
the
services
as
well.
The
Archbishop
of
Colombo,
Jean-Marie
Masson,
made
a
vow
during
the
Second
World
War
that
if
Ceylon
were
to
be
protected
from
major
conflict,
he
would
build
a
Votive
Basilica
under
the
title
Our
Lady
of
Lanka.
His
wish
came
true,
and
in
1946,
he
obtained
approval
from
the
then
Pope,
Pius
XII,
for
the
construction
of
a
basilica
in
honor
of
Our
Lady
of
Lanka.
The
Basilica
was
completed
in
1974,
a
year
after
Pope
Paul
VI
endowed
the
church
with
the
title
of
Minor
Basilica.
In
conclusion,
the
Thewatte
Basilica
Shrine
is
a
beautiful
and
peaceful
place
that
attracts
a
large
number
of
Roman
Catholic
devotees
from
all
over
the
world.
Its
rich
history,
stunning
architecture,
and
serene
environment
make
it
a
must-visit
destination
in
Sri
Lanka.
The
Great
Sacrifice
performed
with
the
blessings
of
the
Mother
of
God
helps
to
heal
many
patients.
The
Goddess
who
resides
in
this
church
has
been
blessed
to
bring
sorrow
to
the
hearts
of
other
devotees
and
to
fulfill
their
wishes
and
achieve
victory.
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