Salesian presence in Sri Lanka.

With the arrival of Fr. Remery, a French Salesian missionary, the Salesian apostolate in Sri Lanka began in 1956 at Colombo.The first centre was established at Negombo in 1963, with a Technical School.Gradually Salesians were recruited locally,other centres were opened and new apostolic activities were started. When Sri Lanka celebrated the Golden Jubilee of Salesian presence in 2006-2007, 17 established centres could be counted: Negombo, Dungalpitiya, Uswetakeiyawa, Palliyawatta, Dankotuwa, Kotadeniyawa, Kandy, Arambegama, Bibele, Elpitiya, Murunkan, Nochchiyagama, Hungama, Ahungalla, Nugegoda, and Metiyagane, spread out in the 11 districts of the country.

Salesian Sri Lanka was part of the Madras (Chennai) Salesian Province in South India. In 1993 it was made into a Delegation and it was raised to the status of a Vice Province in August 2004. The headquarters of the Vice Province is situated at Dungalpitiya, along the coastal road from Colombo to Negombo.

Since their arrival on the Island in 1956, the Salesians in Sri Lanka have been in the forefront spearheading the development of education and propagating the well being of the poorest of the poor and socially marginalized citizens of the country, especially boys, children and young girls