D. J. Ambalavanar
The Right Reverend David Jeyaratnam Ambalavanar was a Sri Lankan Tamil priest and the Church of South India Bishop of Jaffna.
Rt Rev. D. J. Ambalavanar | |
---|---|
Bishop of Jaffna | |
Church | Church of South India |
Diocese | Jaffna |
Installed | 30 June 1971 |
Term ended | 28 February 1993 |
Predecessor | S. Kulendran |
Successor | S. Jebanesan |
Personal details | |
Born | 28 February 1928 |
Died | 10 October 1997 69) | (aged
Alma mater | St. John's College Jaffna College Serampore College |
Early life
Ambalavanar was born on 28 February 1928.[1][2] He was the son of Reverend Joseph Ponnambalam Ambalavanar and Annamma. He was educated at St. John's College, Jaffna (1932–42) and Jaffna College (1942-50).[1] He then went to Serampore College in India from where he obtained a B.D. degree in 1955.[1] He obtained a B.A. degree from the University of London in 1959.[1] In 1968 he received a M.Th. from King's College London.
Ambalavanar married Dr Chandraranee Kanapathipillai. They had two sons (Dr Devathayalan and Devadarshan).[1]
Career
After graduating in 1955 Ambalavanar served as minister in the Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India.[1] He became the second Church of South India Bishop of Jaffna on 30 June 1971.[1][2] He retired on 28 February 1993.[1][2]
Ambalavanar was Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jaffna College.[2] Ambalavanar was a strong advocate of the civilian victims of the country's civil war.[1]
Death
Ambalavanar died on 10 October 1997 at Jaffna Hospital after a brief illness.[2][3]
References
- Arumugam, S. (1997). Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon. pp. 4–5.
- "Death of Bishop Ambalavanar". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 12 October 1997.
- "Bishop Ambalavanar expires in Jaffna". TamilNet. 10 October 1997.