By Roy Denish.
Jerome Fernando Miracle Dome expansion near Minuwangoda sparks debate over traffic, transparency, international ties and oversight.
COLOMBO – Rapid infrastructural expansion and high profile international affiliations linked to self-proclaimed “prophet” Jerome Fernando have reignited intense public debate in Sri Lanka over the regulation of mega churches and the unchecked growth of prosperity theology.
The focal point of the recent scrutiny is the expansive “Miracle Dome City” project, situated near Minuwangoda along the main route to Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake. Originally emerging as a local assembly point under the banner of The Glorious Church, the ministry’s footprint has expanded significantly, drawing massive crowds to its services and triggering severe localized traffic congestion.
Critics and commuters have increasingly voiced frustration over the scale of the developments built on low-lying and marshy terrain warning of potential environmental pressures and infrastructural gridlock near the country’s primary international gateway.
Public concern has been further amplified by Fernando’s overt ties to high-profile international figures, including British-Zimbabwean preacher Uebert Angel. Angel, who has served as a presidential envoy and ambassador-at-large for Zimbabwe, has previously faced intense international scrutiny and investigative reporting over alleged gold smuggling and money laundering schemes. The association between the networks has drawn sharp criticism from civic commentators, who have questioned the financial transparency of rapidly expanding religious organizations operating outside conventional regulatory oversight.
The ministry and church leadership have consistently defended the expansion as part of spiritual and humanitarian initiatives designed to foster community welfare, education, and global outreach. Representatives maintain that all building initiatives and contributions are governed by structured administrative frameworks intended to serve a growing base of local and international adherents.
However, civil society groups and watchdogs argue that economic vulnerabilities and public fatigue heightened by compounding national crises can create fertile ground for exploitative models disguised as spiritual movements. Observers continue to call for rigorous financial transparency and proactive oversight by relevant state institutions to monitor large-scale commercial and religious land developments across the country.
