Bishop who demanded justice for Tamils dies

Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph was a vocal critic of the state, periodically taking up allegations of war-time killings and disappearances in the Northern Province

Former Roman Catholic Bishop of Mannar Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph, an untiring advocate of Tamil rights and justice during Sri Lanka’s civil war and post-war years, passed away on Thursday. He was 80. The Bishop was a vocal critic of the state, periodically taking up allegations of war-time killings and disappearances in the Northern Province, according to those familiar with his activism. In addition to being a revered religious leader for Sri Lanka’s Tamil-speaking catholic community, Bishop Rayappu Joseph was a passionate human rights defender. “He was a very highly regarded activist, who had the social stature to engage with those wielding power, be it the President of the country, UN officials, or the LTTE leadership. And with all of them, he would speak his mind and assert himself,” recalls human rights activist Ruki Fernando.