Thomas Savundaranayagam


Right Reverend Emmanuel Thomas Savundaranayagam is a Sri Lankan 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. He was educated at St. Anthony's College, Kayts and St. Patrick's College, Jaffna. He then studied at St. Martin's Seminary, Jaffna and National Seminary, Ampitiya. Savundaranayagam has a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree from the Pontifical Urbaniana University and a Diploma in Catechetics.

Career

Savundaranayagam was ordained as a priest in December 1963. After his ordination he served as an assistant parish priest at St. Mary's Cathedral, Jaffna for few years. 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. He became Bishop of Jaffna in July 1992. He retired in October 2015.
Savundaranayagam is a strong activist for Tamil rights in Sri Lanka and humanitarian efforts in what is sometimes called "Tamil Eelam". He had called for international intervention to stop the Sri Lankan conflict.