Thomas Savundaranayagam

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

Rt Rev.

Thomas Savundaranayagam
Bishop of Jaffna
Native name
தோமசு சௌந்தரநாயகம்
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
ProvinceColombo
DioceseJaffna
Installed6 July 1992
Term ended13 October 2015
PredecessorBastiampillai Deogupillai
SuccessorJustin Gnanapragasam
Other postsBishop of Mannar (1981-92)
Personal details
Born (1938-07-13) 13 July 1938
Kayts, Ceylon
Alma materPontifical Urbaniana University

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] After his ordination he served as an assistant parish priest at St. Mary's Cathedral, Jaffna for few years.[5] 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.[6]

Savundaranayagam is a strong activist for Tamil rights in Sri Lanka and humanitarian efforts in what is sometimes called "Tamil Eelam".[7][8] He had called for international intervention to stop the Sri Lankan conflict.[9]

References
  1. "Bishop Thomas Savundaranayagam". Catholic Hierarchy.
  2. "Bishop Savundranayagam". Union of Catholic Asian News.
  3. "Past Bishops". St Patrick's College, Jaffna Old Boys' Association, Colombo Branch. Archived from the original on 23 March 2014.
  4. Rasaiya, Christy (16 July 2000). "St. Patrick's 150 years old". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).
  5. "Bishop's Golden Jubilee, Souvenir". Pathukavalan. 130 (13): 16. 01-08-2006. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. "Pope appoints new bishop in Jaffna, S. Lanka". Vatican Radio. 13 October 2015.
  7. "Jaffna bishop hails gesture". The Hindu. 1 January 2009.
  8. Kremmer, Janaki (14 January 2005). "Distrust between Sri Lanka, rebels hampers tsunami aid". The Christian Science Monitor.
  9. "Sri Lankan Bishop calls for international intervention to stop war". Alertnet. Caritas Internationalis. 11 May 2007. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008.


Catholic Church titles
New title Bishop of Mannar
24 January 1981 – 6 July 1992		 Succeeded by
Rayappu Joseph
Preceded by
Bastiampillai Deogupillai		 Bishop of Jaffna
6 July 1992 – 13 October 2015		 Succeeded by
Justin Gnanapragasam
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