Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Sebamalai
I, Fr. Emmanuel Sebamalai, born in Nedunkandal, Adampan, Mannar, Sri Lanka, did my primary studies
in my birth place and completed my secondary and advanced level studies at St. Francis Xavier National
Seminary. In 1992 I joined the Seminary of Our Lady of Madhu, Mannar. Having completed my school
studies, I went to St. Francis Xavier Major Seminary, Jaffna, where I completed Bachelors in Philosophy
and in the National Seminary of Ampitiya, Kandy a Bachelors in Theology. Ordained priest in 2006, I
served in many parishes of the Diocese of Mannar as pastor and assistant pastor. As I was interested in
the area of human rights and social justice, I was elected to be the president of Mannar Citizens
Committee, a non- profit, non-governmental organization. The area interest of the NGO has been
human rights, social justice, awareness raising and involving humanitarian activities. I also had the
opportunity to take leadership as the president of the Zonal Task force which was the district based task
force of the Consultation Task force on Reconciliation Mechanisms (a panel of 11 independent eminent
persons appointed by prime minister Rani Wickremesinghe in January 2016). I also represented the war
affected Tamil People at the sessions of United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva,
Switzerland. During this time period, I participated in many local and international workshops and
training programs.
in my birth place and completed my secondary and advanced level studies at St. Francis Xavier National
Seminary. In 1992 I joined the Seminary of Our Lady of Madhu, Mannar. Having completed my school
studies, I went to St. Francis Xavier Major Seminary, Jaffna, where I completed Bachelors in Philosophy
and in the National Seminary of Ampitiya, Kandy a Bachelors in Theology. Ordained priest in 2006, I
served in many parishes of the Diocese of Mannar as pastor and assistant pastor. As I was interested in
the area of human rights and social justice, I was elected to be the president of Mannar Citizens
Committee, a non- profit, non-governmental organization. The area interest of the NGO has been
human rights, social justice, awareness raising and involving humanitarian activities. I also had the
opportunity to take leadership as the president of the Zonal Task force which was the district based task
force of the Consultation Task force on Reconciliation Mechanisms (a panel of 11 independent eminent
persons appointed by prime minister Rani Wickremesinghe in January 2016). I also represented the war
affected Tamil People at the sessions of United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva,
Switzerland. During this time period, I participated in many local and international workshops and
training programs.
