Thomas Savundaranayagam

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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 post(s)Bishop of Mannar (1981-92)
Personal details
Born (1938-07-13) 13 July 1938 (age 85)
Kayts, Ceylon
Alma materPontifical Urbaniana University

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.

Early life and family[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Bishop Thomas Savundaranayagam". Catholic Hierarchy.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "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. 2006.
  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.

External links[edit]

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Catholic Church titles
New title Bishop of Mannar
24 January 1981 – 6 July 1992 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of Jaffna
6 July 1992 – 13 October 2015 		Succeeded by
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