KANDY, DIOCESE of. — In the center of the island of Ceylon, it was initially an apostolic vicariate, erected on 20 April 1883 by separation from the then apostolic vicariate of Colombo and entrusted to the Silvestrine Benedictine Congregation. On 1 September 1886, Leo XIII established the Catholic hierarchy on the island of Ceylon, and the apostolic vicariate of K. was elevated to a diocese. It comprises the « Central and Uva Provinces » and borders the dioceses of Jaffna, Chilaw, and Trincomalie, and the archdiocese of Colombo.
Its territory covers an area of 13,917 sq. km.; the population exceeds 1,600,000 inhabitants, of whom 46,500 are Catholics, 20,000 Protestants, 900,000 Buddhists, 550,000 Hindus, and 90,000 Muslims. It is divided into 4 districts, 12 parishes, 16 primary stations with the priest in residence, and 25 secondary stations. There are 39 churches and 182 chapels. Working there are 33 Silvestrine Fathers, 18 of them Ceylonese, 10 indigenous secular priests, and about 40 brothers from various institutes. The sisters number 175: 100 indigenous and 75 foreign. The diocesan schools comprise 59 elementary schools, with 5,919 boys and 4,898 girls, 26 middle schools with approximately 4,700 students, and 15 secondary schools with nearly 1,100 pupils. The charitable institutions consist of 7 orphanages with a total of 420 orphans and 1 almshouse. There is a minor seminary and a scholasticate of the Silvestrines. In 1893 a pontifical seminary was opened in K., inaugurated the following year. Initially remaining under the supervision of the apostolic delegate in India, on 31 May 1905 it was entrusted to the Jesuits, both for its direction and its administration.
PONTIFICAL ATHENAEUM OF K. - In the aforementioned Seminary, the faculties of philosophy and theology were established on 27 July 1926. To date, approximately 600 priests have graduated from this Athenaeum, not a few of whom have been elevated to the episcopal dignity. The transfer of the faculties to Bangalore, a more centrally located city in India, is planned.