The Tamil nation deeply loved and revered Archbishop Rayappu Joseph.
The Tamil nation deeply loved and revered Archbishop Rayappu Joseph.
Born on 16 April 1940 in Neduntheevu, the former Bishop of the Diocese of Mannar, Rev. Rayappu Joseph Andakai passed away on Thursday morning 1 April 2021, in Jaffna, at the age of 80. Today is his memorial day.
Andakai was the one who bravely revealed to the international community the accurate account that 1,46,679 Tamil people were killed and made disappeared by the Sri Lankan government in the Mullivaikkal Tamil genocide in May 2009.
Archbishop Rayappu Joseph Andakai worked tirelessly in many ways for the rapid resettlement of Tamils displaced by the war and for disaster relief work in the north and east of Tamil homeland.
He frequently visited Tamil political prisoners languishing in Sri Lankan prisons, maintained contacts, consoled them and spoke out strongly for their release. He spoke out strongly for justice for the painful struggles of the relatives of those who were forced to go missing.
Regarding the mass grave discovered in the Thiruktheeswaram area in 2013, which could be evidence of the Tamil genocide, he said, “I have no faith in the Sri Lankan government’s investigation into this! Therefore, an international investigation is needed into it!” He as a humanitarian fighter in many ways spoke out tirelessly against human injustice committed by the genocidal government. He voiced loudly that justice delayed is justice denied.
In January 2016, the Tamil nation was saddened when Andakai suddenly retired from his pastoral work at the age of 75 due to ill health. During his tenure, foreign ambassadors and human rights activists visiting the Tamil homeland regularly visited Andakai Rayappu Joseph. Despite the numerous threats to his life for speaking out for the Tamil people, he did not give in to any fear and continued to speak out for the Tamil people. The loss of Andakai is an irreparable loss for the entire Eelam Tamil community.
The Tamil nation will remember Andakai who served with great devotion to the national leader and the Tamil people, forever.
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