Sri Lanka’s Oldest Sinhala Catholic Newspaper ‘Gnanartha Pradipaya’ Marks Over 160 Years of Publication

The Sri Lankan Church’s official Sinhala-language publication, Gnanartha Pradipaya, the oldest continuously published Sinhala newspaper in the country, will mark its 161st year with its edition dated Sunday, June 21.

Published by the Colombo Catholic Press under the administration of the Archdiocese of Colombo, the weekly newspaper has held a unique place in Sri Lanka’s media history since its launch on June 7, 1866.

Sri Lanka’s printing history dates back to 1737, when the Dutch introduced the first printing press to the island. More than a century later, the Roman Catholic Press was established on November 12, 1843, marking a new phase in Catholic communications in the country.

Its first Sinhala publication, Christian Teaching, was translated from English by Don Romingu Wijeyasinghe Muhandiram. Inspired by early developments in Catholic printing, a group of lay Catholics later ventured into journalism, launching Colombo Saddharma Sangraha, a bilingual English-Sinhala newsletter in March 1846.

Although the publication ceased within a year, Wijeyasinghe Muhandiram later launched another newspaper, Lankavrudhiya, in Kandy in 1852. That too ceased publication by the end of the same year.

The turning point came on June 7, 1866, with the establishment of Gnanartha Pradipaya. Its earliest editions were printed at the Orphanage Press near St. Lucia’s Cathedral in Kotahena, Colombo. Over time, it developed into a key Catholic publication in Sri Lanka, offering perspectives on Church teaching, social issues, and community life.

Alongside Gnanartha Pradipaya, the Colombo Catholic Press also publishes the English weekly The Messenger and the Tamil publication Gnana Oli, serving Sri Lanka’s multi-linguistic Catholic community.

Historically, the newspaper has been guided by a succession of clergy as chief editors, though in its early years it was largely sustained by committed lay Catholics, reflecting strong grassroots involvement in Church communications.

Today, its distribution continues to rely heavily on parish-based volunteer networks. Members of Catholic lay associations such as the Legion of Mary, the Sacred Heart Society, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul play a key role in ensuring weekly circulation across parishes.

In a media environment where print journalism continues to face significant challenges, Gnanartha Pradipaya remains an enduring voice of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka, maintaining its presence as both a historical institution and a living part of the country’s Catholic communication network.