The parish of Pannipitiya, located in a predominantly non-Catholic region, faced challenges as the children of scattered Catholic families had limited opportunities to attend Catholic schools where religious education was provided. Due to the small number of Catholic families spread across a vast area, there were no assisted private Catholic schools available, except for Christ King College, which at the time was underdeveloped.

Recognizing this need, Rev. Fr. W. Don Sylvester, who served as the parish priest from 1956 to 1964, laid the foundation for the present Sunday School system in Pannipitiya. He initiated religious instruction for children after Sunday Mass, starting in Pannipitiya’s main church and extending to other sub-stations within the parish. This marked the humble beginnings of what would evolve into the modern Sunday School system across Sri Lanka.

The Sunday Catechism classes initiated in Pannipitiya parish soon spread nationwide, evolving into an extensive, organized religious education system. This expansion was fueled by a pressing need of the time: in 1960, the government took control of non-fee levying private schools. One of their first actions was to transfer Catholic teachers to non-Catholic schools in distant areas. Under government management, religious education and the spiritual formation of students were largely neglected. The appointment of non-Catholic teachers to former Catholic schools further eroded religious instruction. In response, many parishes adopted the Sunday School model pioneered by Pannipitiya.

Today, the Sunday School in Pannipitiya parish is about 60 years old and has grown to offer classes in both Sinhala and English. The Sinhala medium Sunday School begins at 9:00 am and is followed by the children’s Holy Mass at 11:00 am. The English medium Sunday School starts at 4:00 pm, with the English Holy Mass at 6:00 pm. 

The Sunday School in Pannipitiya is supported by a qualified and dedicated teaching staff. Adhering to national and diocesan guidelines, the children participate in activities at the parish, diocesan, and national levels, fostering a well-rounded religious education and spiritual growth.