Chilaw Cathedral (Our Lady of Mount Carmel )
Chilaw is a historical village of the pearl of the Indian Ocean. In the geographical maps of ancient and understandable Ceylon or Taprobane – now Sri Lanka – the name Chilaw is visible as “Chilao” the meaning of which is not clear. Ptolemy (A.D. 150) – an ancient Greek seaman and the Dutch who prepared the maps of ancient Ceylon has clearly marked Chilaw as “Chilao” in their maps. The word “Chilao” is derived from Tamil “Chalapam” some say. “Chalapam” refers to the pearls found in Chilaw sea, obtained from oysters. The history of pearls from Chilaw to Mannar goes up to King Vijaya’s era. Chilaw then - a special area - was famous for pearls. Even today some old people call Chilaw as ‘Muthu Halawatha”. As to some historical legends the Sinhala name for Chilaw - Halawatha - goes to the era of king Kawantissa . While taking a Bee Hive to Anurahapura from Negombo infant bee ants were shaken off ( Halawe) now known as Chilaw. As to another legend, Salawatha - Wathasala (Chilaw) means weaving centers - Wasthra Shala - Wathasala has then known as Salawatha and finaly for ease Halawatha. Cotton was brought to Salawatha from “Thambrapanni “ or “Tammanna” for making clothes. Up to date there is a street called “Weavers Street” in Chilaw. Many people like to accept this explanation.
According to those legends, Chilaw or Salapura or Halawatha had been inhabited from time immemorial and it goes back to the beginning of Sinhala Rajawaliya - Title of Kings - or to the period of Princess Kuweni of Yaksha tribe who had been weaving cotton when Prince Vijaya (B.C. 483 - 446 ) and his retinue landed at Tammanna or Thambapanni.
Chilaw had been a busy and important port in ancient times. A famous traveler - Iban Bathuta in 1344 came to Chilaw. He has written that he saw bundled cinnamon ready to be shipped in port “Salvat” (Salawath - means Chilaw).
Then we focus on how Chilaw became populated. Even today most of the Chilawians belong to the Mihindukulasooriyan clang. They are supposed to be the roots - the beginners of Pitipana Street, Chilaw. In the time of King Sri Parakramabahu the VI of Kotte (A.D. 1412 - 1468) nine Army Officers have arrived here with platoons (over 7000) to an invitation made by the king to help fight against Mukkuwa invasion. Those chiefs were of Karawa cast of India(Kawrava). After the battle was won, one of the chiefs Arsakula alias Mihindukulasooriya Mudiyanse and his platoon settled down in Chilaw in Pitipana Street the best part of the Chilaw visinity. Today Mihindukulasooriyans are the direct descendants of Arsakula Alias Mihindukulasooriya Mudiyanse. Other chiefs also settled down along the costal belt up to the Southern parts of Ceylon.
When the Portuguese came here in 1505 and started spreading Christianity, Chilaw people embraced it directly. It may be because Mihindukulasooriyans had roots with Thomas Christians in India. Churches were built along the costal belt from Colombo to Puttalam. There was a church in Chilaw too built by the Portuguese. When the Dutch took over it took a bad and uneasy period for Christians. During this period Rev. Fr. Joseph Vaz came to Sri Lanka started his missionary activities as a solace to Christians. His was a secret holy and tremendous service to the nation. We need not repeat here his services to Catholics and the poor especially to the Kandyan Kingdom when an epidemic broke out . From time to time when riots erupted, churches were devastated by the Buddhists and the Dutch. Some wanted to take revenge from Catholism because it was introduced by the Portuguese. But none could wipe out Christianity completely from Sri Lanka. And from time to time disguised priests came here from India and other countries to serve the Catholics here.
In 1603 Temporary churches were built in Chilaw, Madampe and Caimal (Kammala) by two Jesuits priests - Sebastian Andreas and Pedro Euticio. But those churched were set on fire due to riots in those days. There was no record as to the whereabouts of the Chilaw church. After that incident as a security measure a new church was built in the name of St. Peter near the sea beach because if any trouble broke up the priest could be saved by sailing them away from the island. That was between the years 1617 - 18.
Around 1780 the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Carmel was found. As to the legend a poor woman who went for fire wood to nearby thicket heard a noise that said “take me”. She bundled the statue with firewood and brought it home and kept it a secret. After that they faced many a trouble and finally she disclosed the secret to the villagers. The villagers then erected a church near railway station and enshrined the statue there for worship. The statue had been there for about 80 long years.
Those days the fishermen in the village used to get heavy catches of fish and they believed it was a miracle of Our Lady. When Catholics grew in number there was not enough room in the church for the devotees. By that time the Dutch rulers had given freedom for worship one’s own religion. On 08th September 1850, Chilaw was declared a parish. The necessasity of a permanent church felt by the devotees. The parish priest who served Chilaw at that time was Rev. Fr. Froilano Oruna - a Spanish Sylvestro Benedictine order.
Mrs. Lucia Fernando – a devoted Christian donated a land and many followed suit. And the village fishermen flock together to contribute one tenth of their income to build the new church.
Finally in 29th June 1851, the foundation stone was laid by Mr. Seimon Cassichetty who was then the Magistrate of Chilaw , a great scholar. After nine years of labour the church was built and the miraculous statue was brought to the new church in ceremonial procession. ( Please refer “Halawatha Urumaya” by Susantha Fernando for more details.)
In November 16th 1860 The Church was consecrated and according to Rt. Rev. late Dr. His Lordship Edmond Peiris a great historian and the first Sinhalese Bishop, Chilaw church was the first to be consecrated in Sri Lanka. When the Diocese of Chilaw was created in January 05th 1939 by Holy Father Pius XII the church was declared the Cathedral Church of the new Chilaw Diocese. His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Edmond Peiris - a proud son of Chilaw became the first Bishop of Chilaw.
This great structure – the Basilica of Chilaw with a glorious outlook of its gothic architecture and the ancient statue of Our Lady perhaps the biggest building in Chilaw even today stands a permanent and blessed monument to Our Lady.
The Centenary Jubilee of the cathedral was held in 1951 under the patronage of His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Edmond Peiris O.M.I. – late Bishop of Chilaw.
