In 1890, as per the request of Pope
Leo XIII, Monsignor Ladislaus Zaleski started exploring the possibility of a Papal Seminary for
India,
Burma and
Ceylon. Zaleski took up residence in
Kandy, and chose an upland known as
Ampitiya, that overlooks the
Dumbara Valley. The
Papal Seminary was established in 1893. It was one of the first major seminaries to be supported by the
Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle. After the
Papal Seminary was moved to Pune, India, the former buildings became the home to the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka in 1955. The administration was entrusted to the
Oblates of Mary Immaculate who were already instructing priests at St. Bernard's Seminary, Colombo. The first academic year of the National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka commenced on 10 September 1955. == Teaching ==