Since my becoming a priest in Dec. 1966, I have been travelling and flying a lot, in Sri Lanka, Asia and in the world.
1.1 As a priest & theologian to all parts of Sri Lanka with my Volkswagon for lectures and seminars.
1.2 As a theological advisor for the FABC from 1986 till 1994, flew to almost all 18 countries of the FABC.
1.3 From 1996 forced to Exile into UK and Germany, later elected President of the GTF in 2010, I had to fly to many parts of the world Lobbying Support of various governments and addressing Meeting of Tamil Diaspora organisations.
In all These travels i enjoyed returning home to Jaffna or London or Germany. But this return at the end of 2017 is historic, because after a much considered and planned out Programme, I returned to my birth place to spend the last Phase of my life, closer to the home and closer to God whom I first experienced in my youth. this decision making started after two important events - the President of Sri Lanka inviting me to come back to SL and my celebrations of the priestly golden jubilee. I thought that I could be helpful in this governments plan for reconciliation and peace. And to live my following of Jesus close to my Tamil people, at least the last phase of life as discipleship. Being a disciple and co-pilot with Jesus guiding me, I must move not very fast or long term, but slowly enough to take orders from Him.
2. Winding up my 21 years of self-exile,
was not easy. Frequent visits to London to see my sister and family and many visits during the war to different Tamil meetings in the world, many engagements as president of the Global Tamil Forum, in different capitals of the world, kept me busy with flight arrangements. These 21 years were for me a cosmopolitan life rich in experience of meeting people, motivating people about their duty in favour of our people and soliciting support from international organizations and governments towards a peaceful solution of our problrms.
Though travelling all over, I had luckily a parish church base which was home to me. From 1997 till 2007 as Parish priest of St.Mary Magdalene, Horneburg and the 2007 till 2017 St. Nicholas parish in Darfeld. These two bases gave me a place to grow in my closeness to God and also put out my reflections through my writings. Leaving behind all these with golden jubilee celebrations was for me a big celebrations of gratitude and farewell.
As a priest I have had 51 years of contact starting from my first mass on 1st Jan 1967 in Immekeppel, Cologne diocese. Annuual visits in summer especially after 1976 I made lot of friends - priests theologians lay people - some visited me in Sri Lanka.
3. How/why I decided to return home
In 2014 a preparation was made for a regime change in Sri Lanka with the support of the Tamils. As President of the GTF, I exhorted the diaspora Tamils to support the regime change in Sri Lanka, because the Rajapaksa regime after the genocide of Tamils in Mullivaikaal in 2009, was getting worse in trying to extradicate the roots of Tamil existence in Sri Lanka by Sinhalisation Buddhistisation and militarisation of the Tamil areas. Successfully the regime change was made on 8th Jan 2015. In march, President Sirisena made his 1st official visit to London. In recognition of the support given by the GTF for the regime change, I was invited to London Hilton for breakfast on the 11th March. With four ministers and four GTF officials we had breakfast where I greeted the President with traditional beetle leaves. During the breakfast the president and minister Mangala Samaraweera invited me to return home and work for reconciliation. This invitation was repeated a little later too when I along with Suren Surendiran met him and minister Mangala in Berlin.
On the 16thDec 2016 I celebrated the golden jubilee of my priesthood with a concelebrated mass with Pope Francis at St.Marthas Chapel in the Vatican. After Mass when I had the audience with Pope, I thanked him for his visit to Sri Lanka in 2015, especially for his visit to Madhu calling for reconciliation, he advised me to return home and work for reconciliation.
4. Return in 2 stages
This return home - decision I executed in two stages. In Sept 2017 I came here for a 5 weeks tour testing the waters - meeting govt. ministers, meeting Chandrika, Civic leaders like Ariyaratne of Sarvodaya and church leaders cardinal and bishops.
5. Final Return Home
After my farewell celebrations on 16.12.2017, I returned from Dusseldorf on the 17th evening and reached Colombo on the 18th Dec. afternoon. Afier 2 days in Colombo I came to Jaffna Bishop's House on the 21st.Dec, 2017
6. Life in Jaffna Bishop's House
It did not take a long time to settle down in the two-rooms of the Bishops House - one room my living room, the other my office-work room.
After one year I was ready to publish 4 books.
A Tamil re-publication of Mudintha Mullivaaikalum Thoddarum Pooraddamum
a Tamil re=publication of Inappirachchinayum Ilankai Thiruchchapayaum
ATamil publication on laity maturing in the church - Pothu Nilayinar Muthirchchi
Besides visited my 2 humanitarian projects in Punduloya for last 36 years and Pampamadu for last 7 years. My motive to settle down in Jaffna is to live the last phase of life as a disciple of Jesus in the midst of my people, responding to their needs and cries.
3. Farewell from Germany - 51st Ordination Anniversary
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