page_title: Mariampillai Sarathjeevan
section_title: Memorials
hierarchical_section_title: Mariampillai Sarathjeevan / Memorials
caption_attribution_description: English: This preschool was built by Human Development Center (HUDEC) of Jaffna Diocese of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. It was dedicated to Rev. Fr. Sarathjeevan who died in Sri Lankan civil war with his people.
context_page_description: Mariampillai Thaddeus Sarathjeevan was a catholic priest from Jaffna, Sri Lanka. He was one of the few priests who remained with the refugees until the end of war in northern parts of Sri Lanka. He died while he was leading the last batch of refugees to safety from war zone.
  He was 41 years old and in good health. Unconfirmed reports indicate that he was assaulted by soldiers.
  Rev. Fr. Sarathjeevan, known as "Father Sara", was the coordinator of Jesuit Refugee Service for Kilinochchi district in Sri Lanka. He refused to abandon the refugees, including orphan children, when other volunteers and international organizations left the war zone because of severity of the war. He and his people did not have food or water for three days, until he was able to bring them to safety. They all had to stay underground in a bunker. In recognition of his service and heroic death, the Jesuit Refugee Service established Sara Project on his name.
context_section_description: A statue was unveiled in his memory during his first year memorial service on 18 May 2010.
  Rev. Fr. Yavis, director of HUDEC-Caritas Vanni, built a preschool and dedicated to Rev. Fr. Sarathjeevan on July 31, 2012.
  A charitable organization named Fr.Sarathjeevan Foundation was established in 2013 by the family members of the late Rev. Fr. Sarathjeevan with the patronage of the Bishop of Jaffna Diocese, and managed by a board of five members. Fr.Sarathjeevan Foundation provides financial support for children's education, housing, basic needs such as toilets and medical assistance for families affected by the civil war.
caption: This preschool was built by Human Development Center (HUDEC) of Jaffna Diocese of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. It was dedicated to Rev. Fr. Sarathjeevan who died in Sri Lankan civil war with his people.
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