S. J. Emmanuel
Encyclopedia
Reverend Father S. J. Emmanuel is a Sri Lankan Tamil Catholic
priest, activist and president of the Global Tamil Forum
, an umbrella organisation for Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora
groups.
, Ceylon
. He studied in Jaffna before going to the University of Ceylon
in Colombo
from where he obtained a degree in physical sciences in 1958. After graduation he spent time as a teacher and a journalist. He then went to the Pontifical Urbaniana University
in Rome
from where he obtained a degree in philosophy and theology.
from 1976 to 1986. He was Rector of St. Francis Xavier’s Major Seminary in Jaffna for ten years. He was Vicar General of the Jaffna Diocese until 1997.
Emmanuel was amongst the half million people who fled the Jaffna peninsula
in October 1995 when the Sri Lankan Military launched an offensive
to recapture the peninsula from the rebel Tamil Tigers. He spent the next year in the jungles of Vanni
before going into exile in 1997.
until 2007. Since 2007 he has served as Vicarius Cooperator in St. Nikolaus Parish in Darfeld, Germany.
Emmanuel has spent his exile as an activist publicising the impact of the Sri Lankan Civil War
on civilians. In 2010 he was elected President of the Global Tamil Forum
, an umbrella organisation for Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora
groups.
Roman Catholicism in Sri Lanka
The Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome.The country comes under the province of Colombo and is divided into 11 dioceses including one archdiocese.There are approximately 1.4 million Catholics...
priest, activist and president of the Global Tamil Forum
Global Tamil Forum
Global Tamil Forum is an International Tamil organization meant to further Tamil causes in Tamil areas of Sri Lanka GTF supports self-determination for Tamils and wants Justice for War crimes against Tamils. It is headed by S. J. Emmanuel. In UK it works with both Labour and Conservative Parties...
, an umbrella organisation for Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora
Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora
The Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora refers to the global diaspora of the people of Sri Lankan Tamil origin. It can be said to be a subset of the larger Sri Lankan as well as Tamil diaspora....
groups.
Early life
Emmanuel was born in 1934 in JaffnaJaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
, Ceylon
British Ceylon
British Ceylon refers to British rule prior to 1948 of the island territory now known as Sri Lanka.-From the Dutch to the British:Before the beginning of the Dutch governance, the island of Ceylon was divided between the Portuguese Empire and the Kingdom of Kandy, who were in the midst of a war for...
. He studied in Jaffna before going to the University of Ceylon
University of Ceylon
The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978. In 1978 it was...
in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
from where he obtained a degree in physical sciences in 1958. After graduation he spent time as a teacher and a journalist. He then went to the Pontifical Urbaniana University
Pontifical Urbaniana University
The Pontifical Urbaniana University or Pontifical Urban University is a pontifical university under the authority of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.-History:...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
from where he obtained a degree in philosophy and theology.
Career
Emmanuel was ordained as a priest at St Peter's Basilica in December 1966. On returning to Ceylon he served as a pastor and diocesan director for lay apostolate. He returned to Rome in 1976 where he did research into lay ministries and obtained a doctorate in theology. After returning to Sri Lanka he served as a professor and Dean of Theology at the National Seminary in KandyKandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
from 1976 to 1986. He was Rector of St. Francis Xavier’s Major Seminary in Jaffna for ten years. He was Vicar General of the Jaffna Diocese until 1997.
Emmanuel was amongst the half million people who fled the Jaffna peninsula
Jaffna Peninsula
The Jaffna Peninsula is an area in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is home to the capital city of the province, Jaffna and comprises much of the former land mass of the ancient Tamil kingdoms of the Nagas and the medieval Jaffna kingdom. The peninsula is mostly surrounded by water, connected to...
in October 1995 when the Sri Lankan Military launched an offensive
Operation Riviresa
Operation Riviresa , was a combined military operation launched by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces in Jaffna. Starting on the 17 October 1995, the primary objective of the operation was the capture of the town of Jaffna and rest of the Jaffna peninsula from the LTTE...
to recapture the peninsula from the rebel Tamil Tigers. He spent the next year in the jungles of Vanni
Vanni (Sri Lanka)
The Vanni is the name given to the mainland area of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It covers the entirety of Mannar, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya Districts, and most of Kilinochchi District. It has an area of approximately 7,650 km2...
before going into exile in 1997.
Exile
Emmanuel moved to Germany in 1997 where he was a pastor in a catholic parish in the diocese of MünsterRoman Catholic Diocese of Münster
The Diocese of Münster is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Germany. It is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Cologne. Bishop Felix Genn is the current Bishop of the Diocese of Münster. He was ordained to the priesthood on July 11, 1976 and was appointed...
until 2007. Since 2007 he has served as Vicarius Cooperator in St. Nikolaus Parish in Darfeld, Germany.
Emmanuel has spent his exile as an activist publicising the impact of the Sri Lankan Civil War
Sri Lankan civil war
The Sri Lankan Civil War was a conflict fought on the island of Sri Lanka. Beginning on July 23, 1983, there was an on-and-off insurgency against the government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a separatist militant organization which fought to create an independent Tamil state named Tamil...
on civilians. In 2010 he was elected President of the Global Tamil Forum
Global Tamil Forum
Global Tamil Forum is an International Tamil organization meant to further Tamil causes in Tamil areas of Sri Lanka GTF supports self-determination for Tamils and wants Justice for War crimes against Tamils. It is headed by S. J. Emmanuel. In UK it works with both Labour and Conservative Parties...
, an umbrella organisation for Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora
Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora
The Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora refers to the global diaspora of the people of Sri Lankan Tamil origin. It can be said to be a subset of the larger Sri Lankan as well as Tamil diaspora....
groups.