Former Bishop of Mannar dies

Former Roman Catholic Bishop of Mannar, Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph passed away on Thursday. He was 80.

He had been receiving treatment at a private hospital in Jaffna at the time of his death.

He was born on April 16, 1940 on the northern island of Neduntheevu, also known as Delft. He was educated at St. Patrick’s College in Jaffna and St. Joseph’s College in Anuradhapura. Following his entry to priesthood, he was enrolled at St. Martin’s Seminary in Jaffna and later at the National Seminary in Ampitiya.

In December 1967, he was ordained as a priest and later obtained a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Urbaninana University in Rome.

Rev. Rayappu Joseph was appointed Bishop of Mannar diocese in 1992.