The 44th death anniversary of Rev. Fr. Singarayar David, who died of a heart attack after witnessing the burning of the Jaffna Public Library by Sinhalese mobs, was commemorated on June 1 in Thumpalai, Point Pedro.
The event was organized by Rev. Fr. Kirubakaran, Dean of the Point Pedro Deanery and Parish Priest of Point Pedro, in collaboration with St. Mary’s Community Centre, Thumpalai. The program was chaired by Mr. Jeyaratnam Hudsan Anojan, President of St. Mary’s Community Centre.
As part of the commemoration, the newly reconstructed statue of Rev. Fr. Singarayar — now with a reinforced foundation and new roof — was unveiled by Rev. Fr. Kirubakaran. This was followed by a garland and floral tribute honoring the late priest’s memory.
The occasion also featured an award ceremony recognizing students who excelled in the 2024 Scholarship Examination, the 2023 G.C.E. Ordinary Level exam, and various catechism and essay competitions.
On the night of May 31, 1981, during a wave of violence against Tamils, several key sites in Jaffna — including the central market, business establishments, the Eelanadu newspaper office, and the Jaffna Public Library — were set on fire by Sinhalese mobs.
The burning of the Jaffna Public Library, then the largest in Southeast Asia and home to nearly 97,000 rare books, is remembered as one of the most severe acts of ethnic and cultural destruction in the 20th century.
Its destruction left an indelible scar on the Tamil people and is widely regarded as a turning point that intensified the Tamil national movement.
