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Shrine · Sri Lanka

National Shrine of St. Anne at Thalawila

Thalawila, North Western Province, Sri Lanka

ShrineCoastal PilgrimageLiving PilgrimageNational ShrinePilgrim StaySt. AnneCatholic Sri Lanka collectionCatholic Sri Lanka: Shrines, Martyrs & Pilgrimage collectionCatholicActive Catholic national shrine; longstanding pilgrimage is documented, while competing origin and apparition stories remain tradition

Why pilgrims come

Discover what makes National Shrine of St. Anne at Thalawila a place of pilgrimage

A coastal national shrine whose March and late-July–August pilgrimages bring large crowds to camp and pray near the sea. Seventeenth-century origin accounts combine documentation with oral traditions, including apparition or shipwreck stories; those narratives are labeled tradition rather than approved supernatural findings.

Primary sacred connectionSt. Annepatron of the national shrine; not a tomb
Research trail1 catalog sourceLast checked Sep 5, 2026
Pilgrim planningConfirm before travelingWorship times and access can change
TraditionCatholic

The sacred connection

People and objects remembered here

These relationships are part of the destination record, with feast days and catalog qualifications shown where available.

SaintSt. Anne

patron of the national shrine; not a tomb

Feast: July 26

Feasts, anniversaries & celebrations

St. Anne’s principal pilgrimageVerify the movable feast program, camping rules, and transport.
Overnight stay available

A government-administered pilgrims house is listed; confirm booking eligibility, facilities, charges, and distance from the shrine.

Accommodation details ↗

How to read this page

Sources, tradition, and what is verified

Source trail1 cited catalog source

The destination record was last checked on 9/5/2026.

Editorial standard

This page records the site’s tradition as “Catholic.” That wording describes the nature of the claim and keeps devotional tradition distinct from independently verified history.