Thomas Savundaranayagam

Rt Rev.
Thomas Savundaranayagam
Bishop of Jaffna
Native name தோமசு சௌந்தரநாயகம்
Church Roman Catholic Church
Province Colombo
Diocese Jaffna
Installed 6 July 1992
Term ended 13 October 2015
Predecessor Bastiampillai Deogupillai
Successor Justin Gnanapragasam
Other posts Bishop of Mannar (1981-92)
Personal details
Born (1938-07-13) 13 July 1938
Kayts, Ceylon
Alma mater Pontifical Urbaniana University

Right Reverend Emmanuel Thomas Savundaranayagam (Tamil: இம்மானுவேல் தோமசு சௌந்தரநாயகம்; born 13 July 1938) is a Sri Lanka Tamil priest and former Roman Catholic Bishop of Jaffna.

Early life and family

Savundaranayagam was born on 13 July 1938 in Kayts on the island of Velanaitivu in northern Ceylon.[1][2] He was educated at St. Anthony's College, Kayts and St. Patrick's College, Jaffna.[3][4] He then studied at St. Martin's Seminary, Jaffna and National Seminary, Ampitiya (1957-64).[2] Savundaranayagam has a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree from the Pontifical Urbaniana University and a Diploma in Catechetics.[2]

Career

Savundaranayagam was ordained as a priest in December 1963.[1][2] In January 1981 he was appointed Bishop of Mannar and was ordained as a bishop in July 1981 at the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu.[1][2] He became Bishop of Jaffna in July 1992.[1][2] He retired in October 2015.[5]

Savundaranayagam is a strong activist for Tamil rights in Sri Lanka and humanitarian efforts in what is sometimes called "Tamil Eelam".[6][7] He had called for international intervention to stop the Sri Lankan conflict.[8]

References

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