Seventh-day Adventist Church officially recognized as Christian denomination in Sri Lanka

After more than a century of progress, a historic milestone has been reached. The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sri Lanka has received official recognition as a Christian denomination from the Department of Christian Religious Affairs under the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs. The recognition, granted on June 19, marks a significant advancement for the Adventist Church’s ministry, legal standing, and mission throughout Sri Lanka.

The Adventist Church has maintained a continuous presence in Sri Lanka since 1904, serving local communities through evangelism, education, health ministry, and humanitarian service. Today, the Adventist Church’s work in the country is organized under the Ceylon Mission (CMS), the new name of the former Sri Lanka Mission. Although the Adventist Church has existed in the country for 122 years, it had not been recognized administratively as an officially registered Christian denomination. Instead, it operated under company registration, a status that created various legal and practical challenges.

Without official denominational recognition, the Adventist Church faced difficulties in establishing new places of worship, securing legal protections, and receiving benefits generally extended to recognized religious institutions. In some cases, misunderstandings about the Adventist Church’s legal status led other Christian groups to accuse it of not being a legitimate denomination.

The formal registration process that led to this approval began in 2025 under the leadership of Jung HyoSu, president of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD), the former NSD executive secretary, and the former NSD treasurer. After new officers were elected at the 2025 Constituency Session, Majintha Gunathilake, current executive secretary of the NSD, and current treasurer Shiron Erinton Perera continued the process alongside Jung, until the Adventist Church finally received official recognition.

E. M. U. S. K. Bandara, director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for CMS, played a key role throughout the process. He coordinated communication with government authorities and closely followed the application as it moved through its various stages. The NSD also supported the process.

Northern Asia-Pacific Division

Bandara said the official recognition was the result of the Church’s prayers and efforts over many years.

“For 122 years, our church leaders repeatedly tried to register the Seventh-day Adventist Church as a separate Christian denomination, but every attempt was unsuccessful. This lack of recognition affected many areas of our ministry.”

Bandara said an incident involving the Deniyaya Seventh-day Adventist Church in 2014 became an important turning point. At that time, the church faced the forcible takeover of its property, and while seeking legal assistance, he came into contact with leaders in the Christian community and officials in the Department of Christian Religious Affairs.

“At first, it was a process of seeking help to address the immediate problem. However, through that experience, the Church gained a way to continue dialogue with government officials.”

In the years that followed, Bandara continued to meet regularly with officials as director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty. He introduced them to the history, beliefs, and ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and discussed the possibility of the Adventist Church receiving official recognition as a Christian denomination.

Bandara also recalled a conversation with the director of the Department of Christian Religious Affairs.

“When I spoke about the possibility of registering our Church, the director explained that many applications had not been approved because they failed to meet the required qualifications. However, she said that if we submitted a complete application with all the necessary requirements, she would present it to the High Committee.”

With the approval of the Ceylon Mission Executive Committee, the Adventist Church prepared the necessary documents and submitted the application. The application then passed through the review of the High Committee, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and several other government authorities. Final approval was granted on June 19.

Northern Asia-Pacific Division

Bandara expressed appreciation to the government officials, ministry staff, executive committee members, and all those who assisted throughout the review process.

“We thank God for opening a door that had remained closed for more than a century. This recognition is the result of the efforts of the entire Church and a testimony to God’s leading.”

Church leaders view the recognition as much more than an administrative achievement. Seventh-day Adventist churches can now be officially recognized as places of worship and become eligible for benefits and concessions provided to government-recognized religious institutions, including those related to utilities, duties, and other privileges. The new status also strengthens the Church’s legal foundation and provides a more secure basis for future ministry.

The official recognition enables the Adventist Church to establish new places of worship more effectively, strengthens cooperation with government agencies and community organizations, and allows Seventh-day Adventist churches to receive recognition and concessions available to religious institutions. It is also expected to enhance opportunities for church planting, community outreach, Hope Channel Sri Lanka, Adventist World Radio, educational institutions, and health ministries as the Adventist Church continues implementing its 2026–2030 Strategic Plan.

The original article was published on the Northern Asia-Pacific Division news site.