Church by the River Turns 150

The Church of St. John the Evangelist in Panadura is set to enter its 150th year on September 14, 2025. Known as the Church by the River, it has long served as a spiritual and community hub, offering worship, education, and social support along the Bolgoda River.

- By a parishioner

Our 150th Jubilee emphasizes maintenance, human development, and spirituality, affirming God's grace over the years.

The Church stands by the waters of the Bolgoda river, overlooking the railway bridge and the sea and is referred to as the Church by the river or “Ganga langa Palliya”.

Its Neon cross continues to shine at night as a land beacon to those at sea, symbolizing hope. This coincidentally, also ties in with name of the town, which is Panadura or “lamp at a distance”.

The Church which has stood at this site for well over a century, will now enter its 150th year on the 14th of September 2025. The year will commence with a service to mark the anniversary of the Church's consecration, which will be attended by the Bishop of Colombo, the Rt. Revd. Dushantha Rodrigo.

“In the cool of the evening, with the setting sun on the Western coast and boats plying up and down on the flowing waters of the river, this place becomes an ideal place for silent prayer and meditation”. (an extract from a past parish newsletter)

It is possibly this vista that Gate Mudaliyar Susew de Soysa, saw, which led him and his wife Engeltina de Soysa Lamaetane (Nee Pieris) to fund and build the Church, which at the time, was able to seat 120 persons and incurred a cost of 1200 Sterling Pounds.