Church
of St. John the Baptist, Kalutara North![]()
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The Church of St John the Baptist, Kalutara North was the place of worship for many of the de Fonseka families. They also helped in many ways to build this church. Mary Grace de Fonseka gifted the statue at the main entrance of the church.
In the early years people of the area congregated at a small school hut, for the Sunday mass. Most of the land belonged to Eu Premiyano Mariyano (E.P.M) Fernando, a wealthy businessman of the area. His daughter Victoria Fernando married Frank de Fonseka of Telford Lodge, but tragedy struck when Victoria died giving birth to Dora Victorine de Fonseka. She was later buried in this property. EPM who was a devoted catholic contributed heavily to the effort to build a permanent church for the Catholics of Kalutara North. It is said that EPM who was the main benefactor, got the church designed so that the Tabernacle of the church was on top of the grave of his beloved daughter.
Picture shows the Church of St John the Baptist (Inset the statue gifted by Mary Grace De Fonseka in later years) and below the tabernacle of the church
