Reverend Father Mariampillai Xavier Karunaratnam was a minority Sri Lankan Tamil, Roman Catholic parish priest and a human rights activist. He was the Chairperson of the NESOHR and was killed on 20 April 2008 allegedly by a Deep Penetration Unit of the Sri Lankan Army .Prominent priest killed in Sri Lanka blastNESoHR Chairman Fr. Karunaratnam killed in DPU attackTargeted Killing of Rev. M. X. Karunaratnam is a War Crime In a press release, NESOHR condemned, "in the strongest possible terms", the Sri Lankan state for the assassination of Rev.Fr. Karunaratnam.NESOHR Condemns Father Karunaratnam's Assassination
Biography Karunaratnam was born on 20 April 1951 in Karaveddy, in the Vadamarachchi region of northern Sri Lanka. He was the fourth of ten children in a family of teachers. He was educated at Karaveddy Vigneswara College, Sacred Heart College, and St. Patrick's College. He was an officer with the Bank of Ceylon before he was ordained as a priest in 1989.
During his youth, he participated in student and youth activities associated with the Tamil United Liberation Front. Before entering the priesthood, he worked as an English teacher and was known locally as “Kili Vathiyar” (Teacher Kili). He was also involved in mediation and community relief activities.Father Karunaratnam was founder and Chairman of NESOHR. He was also the Chairman of NGO Consortium of Jaffna. He was engaged in relief work for war displaced and worked in the tsunami relief.SRI LANKA Catholic Priest Killed Returning From Sunday Mass
Background M. X. Karunaratnam was a priest of the Jaffna Diocese and served in the Vanni region of Sri Lanka and worked from the LTTE controlled parts of Sri Lanka.Rev. Fr. Karunaratnam of Jaffna Diocese Killed in a claymore blast He worked for human rights and called on the United Nations and foreign human rights organisation to monitor the human rights situation in Sri Lanka . Appeal to UN on BindunuwewaSri Lanka: Killing of human rights defender Reverend Father M X Karunaratnam Priest Killed BBC Earlier two other NESHOR members and Tamil National Alliance MPs A. Chandranehru and Joseph Pararajasingham were killed. He was extremely critical of the Sri Lankan government.Fr. Karunaratnam killed in DPU attackMonthly Report
Religious vocation In the early 1980s, amid escalating ethnic conflict, Karunaratnam left a career in banking and entered the Catholic seminary. On 20 April 1985, he survived a shooting incident in Urumapirai, Jaffna.
He was ordained a priest on 25 September 1989 by Thomas Savundaranayagam Deogupillai.
Ministry and social engagement Karunaratnam served in several parishes in northern Sri Lanka and became known for his work among war-affected civilians. From 1996 to 2002, he served as parish priest in Mallavi and chaired the Vanni Citizens’ Committee.
Following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, he participated in relief and rehabilitation efforts in the north and east.
He was known for promoting dialogue between Tamil and Sinhalese communities and maintained relationships with clergy, activists, and intellectuals across ethnic lines. He advocated reconciliation, human rights, and the protection of civilians affected by conflict.
Human rights advocacy In 2002, Karunaratnam co-founded the North East Secretariat on Human Rights, which documented human rights violations, including disappearances and civilian killings during the Sri Lankan civil war.
His engagement with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has been described as part of his efforts to advocate for civilian protection in areas under de facto rebel administration. He also publicly opposed the recruitment of children into armed groups.
Death Karunaratnam was killed on 20 April 2008, his 57th birthday, when the vehicle in which he was traveling struck a claymore mine on the Mallavi–Vavunikkulam road in northern Sri Lanka.
His death occurred amid heightened violence and attacks on humanitarian and human rights workers during the final stages of the Sri Lankan civil war. Responsibility for the attack has been disputed.
Legacy Karunaratnam is remembered by many in northern Sri Lanka as a priest committed to peace, justice, and solidarity with war-affected communities. His funeral at St. Theresa's Church was attended by thousands.
He is often referred to as “Father Kili” and is regarded by supporters as a symbol of moral courage and intercommunal reconciliation.
Incident He was killed in the Mallaavi-Vavunikku'lam Road in Vanni after he was returning from a Sunday mass and going to a remembrance ceremony for a Tamil National Alliance a pro LTTE party MP Kiddinan Sivanesan who was also killed in a similar fashion. He was killed by a claymore mine blast carried out allegedly by a Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) of the Sri Lanka Army.Sri Lanka :of human rights defender Rev. Fr. M X Karunaratnam2008 Report on International Religious Freedom - Sri Lanka LTTE military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan stated that "He was targeted by the (government's Deep Penetration Unit) DPU while he was returning to his residence after attending to mass at Mankulam parish,". The Sri Lanka Army denied responsibility for the attack, with its Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara stating "That area is under LTTE control, We do not operate that deep in to LTTE control area. We can't take any responsibility,".
Reaction Rev Fr. Damian Fernando, National Director of Caritas Sri Lanka, said: CAFOD mourns Sri Lankan bomb victim National Peace Council of Sri Lanka has called his death NPC laments Rev Fr Karunaratnam assassination Tamil National Alliance in a press statement said TNA condemns Father Karunaratnam slaying
See also Other notable people killed during the Sri Lankan civil war Joseph Pararajasingham K. Sivanesan Ariyanayagam Chandra Nehru
Other notable clergy killed during the Sri Lankan civil war Mary Bastian Chandra Fernando George Jeyarajasingham Eugene John Hebert Thiruchelvam Nihal Jim Brown Nicholas Pillai Pakiaranjith Mariampillai Sarathjeevan
References
External links
Father Karunaratnam: martyred serving the Tamil people TIC Mourns Fr. Karunaratnam Church condemns 'cowardly' killing of Sri Lanka priest Sangam Grieves Loss of Fr. Karunaratnam