Rising gracefully against the skyline, the Miracle Dome is an architectural marvel that blends spiritual symbolism with modern design.
Words Jennifer Paldano Goonewardane.
Along the Katunayake-Veyangoda Road, just beyond the Bandaranaike International Airport, rises an unmistakable landmark – the gleaming, globe-shaped structure known across Sri Lanka as the Miracle Dome. Its vast curvature dominates the skyline, first revealing itself as you crest a rise on the highway. Then, through its glass façade, another marvel catches the eye, a spectacular chandelier shaped like a school of fish, glimmering in suspended motion.
While the Miracle Dome is widely recognized as the spiritual home of the Glorious Church led by Prophet Jerome Fernando, it is, in fact, an international auditorium managed by the International Conferences Management. The Miracle Dome is its brand name, embodying this architectural and visionary masterpiece by Migara Alwis.
The Miracle Dome is widely recognized as the spiritual home of the Glorious Church led by Prophet Jerome Fernando, it is, in fact, an international auditorium managed by the International Conferences Management.
A mesmerizing golden chandelier shaped like a school of fish at the Miracle Dome.
The Miracle Dome’s modern studios send messages of hope to audiences around the world.
The Wall of Honor recognizes all contributions, ranging from one hundred rupees to millions, made towards the construction of the Miracle Dome.
Advanced acoustic systems ensure precise sound synchronization and an immersive audio experience.
The story of the Miracle Dome is, at its heart, the story of a vision fulfilled. It began as a five-member house church meeting at Prophet Jerome’s Mount Lavinia residence, which was led by his parents, and soon blossomed into a rapidly growing ministry. Within a few short years, that intimate circle of worshippers had multiplied beyond measure, overflowing every space it occupied. With this expansion came a more profound yearning in Prophet Jerome’s heart to find a permanent home for his ministry. A place not merely of worship, but of belonging, a sanctuary large enough to gather those in search of spiritual renewal, learning, and healing.
Then, in 2015, Prophet Jerome received a vision that would chart the course to come. Inspired by the passage in John, Chapter 6, where Jesus fed five thousand people, the vision vividly unfolded before him: a stretch of land sloping downward, water flowing beneath it, aircraft flying overhead, and a highway nearby. At the time, its meaning was unclear, almost puzzling. Yet, with quiet conviction, he shared it with the congregation, declaring that one day they would have a building, but didn’t know where.
It was then that businessman Greatian Gunawadhana entered the story – a man who had been healed through Prophet Jerome’s ministry. Upon hearing the description, the vision perfectly matched a land he owned. Originally, Greatian had planned to build a transit hotel on the property. He decided to donate the three-acre plot to the ministry after paying off the bank loan he had taken to purchase the land from a private owner. The land perfectly matched the vision, with its sloping terrain, the nearby canal, the aircraft flight path, and the highway.
Construction of the Miracle Dome began in August 2017, a bold leap of faith built entirely on the generosity of believers. The project was funded solely through donations, with nearly 70 percent contributed by Sri Lankans and the remainder coming from well-wishers worldwide. In heartfelt recognition, the names of more than 12,000 donors, from those who gave a humble one hundred rupees to those who gave in millions, are etched on the Wall of Honor located at the Jasper Hall.
Yet, the journey was far from easy. The project weathered some of the most turbulent years in recent history – the 2019 Easter bombings, the global pandemic of 2020-2021, and the economic crisis and Aragalaya protests in 2022. Through it all, construction continued.
Finally, on May 27, 2022, in the very midst of national turmoil, the Miracle Dome opened its doors, a powerful testament to perseverance and vision fulfilled. The Miracle Dome stands out for its remarkable pillar-free design, an architectural feat that achieves perfect balance through an ingenious use of weighted distribution and the principles of gravity. The curved walls serve as the primary load-bearing structure, channeling the building’s weight downward to the foundation. Because the site naturally slopes, much of the construction extends below ground level, a deliberate choice by Prophet Jerome who insisted on preserving the terrain to match his vision.
Spanning 4,811 square meters, the Dome’s design creates an expansive, unobstructed interior. The absence of pillars opens the space completely, offering every attendee a clear, uninterrupted view of the stage, the focal point of the auditorium. The circular form further enhances this inclusivity, ensuring that from every seat, the speaker remains in full view. Inside, the aesthetic is intentionally minimal, elegant in its simplicity, so that attention is drawn wholly to the stage.
The auditorium, which accommodates nearly 6,000 people today, features elegantly designed seating and balcony levels, each carefully crafted to ensure clear sightlines to the stage. Overhead, the curved sealing rests on a robust metal truss grid, a structure that not only supports the vast roof but also houses an intricate network of lighting and rigging systems. The exposed metal framework lends the interior a contemporary, industrial sophistication, striking a balance between form, function, and style.
The Miracle Dome is remarkably insulated, achieving total soundproofing —a remarkable feat in a location where the noise of aircraft flying overhead is a daily reality, given its proximity to the country’s main international airport. The roof, built like an ironclad shell, ensures that not even a plane reaching up to 130 decibels disturbs the serenity within. Between the roof covering and the reinforced metal truss grid lies a specialized soundproofing underlay designed to absorb and neutralize external noise. At the heart of it all lies the stage, broad, theatrical, and grand. Flanked by large projection screens and state-of-the-art lighting rigs, it sets a benchmark for international standards for live performance, broadcast, and large-scale worship production. Every element works in harmony to create an immersive, awe-inspiring experience for those who gather beneath the Dome.
The broadcasting studios are a seamless blend of technology and aesthetics.
The auditorium’s design ensures clear sightlines for all attendees, enabling everyone to fully engage with the speaker, Prophet Jerome Fernando.
At the center of the Miracle Dome is the stage — expansive, theatrical, and impressive.
The Dome’s acoustics were masterfully engineered by professionals to overcome the challenges posed by its vast, open-ceiling design and the 100-meter distance from stage to rear. Through advanced audio simulations and the strategic placement of speakers, they ensured perfectly synchronized sound delivery across every seat in the auditorium, ensuring that each audience member experiences the same clarity and depth of sound, regardless of their seating position.
Equally sophisticated is the Dome’s visual technology. Instead of obstructive central cameras, a network of precision camera systems equipped with long-range lenses captures every detail from the entrance and perimeter, allowing for close-ups of speakers and broadcast coverage. It was an ambitious and highly technical undertaking, one that called for international expertise and world-class installations, positioning it among the most advanced facilities of its kind in Southeast Asia.
The Miracle Dome complex extends far beyond the auditorium, incorporating a range of thoughtfully designed auxiliary spaces. Among them is Jasper Hall, an avenue that accommodates between 300 and 400 guests and features two fully equipped television studios, one dedicated to the International Visitors Service (IVS) broadcast, which is aired globally every Sunday at 7pm. The facility also features several meeting rooms, administrative offices, and a large Sunday school area. Adding to its versatility are a cafeteria and, most recently, sixteen guest rooms introduced to accommodate visiting participants and international guests.
As the Dome continues to draw people from around the world, it stands not only as a place of worship but also as a beacon of faith, vision, dedication, and resilience.
What stands out most about the complex and its surroundings is the unwavering commitment to cleanliness and order, maintained to international standards. Every inch of the property reflects meticulous care, with the fully carpeted auditorium serving as the centerpiece of this attention to detail. To preserve its pristine condition, food and beverages are strictly prohibited within the hall. The result is a clean atmosphere where staff and volunteers work seamlessly to manage the ebb and flow of large crowds gathering outside for scheduled services. A sophisticated system for welcoming newcomers, featuring color-coded stickers to identify language preferences (yellow for Sinhala speakers, blue for Tamil speakers, and green for foreigners), ensures appropriate communication.
Given the extraordinary story behind its creation, the ministry believes the Miracle Dome stands as more than an architectural landmark. They consider it a seal on its identity as part of a prophetic movement; its design embodies the vision received by Prophet Jerome, while its location near the airport symbolizes the “nations coming” as foretold in the Isiah, chapter 60.
As the Dome continues to draw people from around the world, it stands not only as a place of worship but also as a beacon of faith, vision, dedication, and resilience.
The Miracle Dome
Katunayake-Veyangoda Road,
Katunayake
+94 117 77 4877
Service: Thursday 6pm, Sunday 7.30am, 11.30am and Poya Day 10am
info@prophetjerome.com
miracle-dome.com/
