Funeral of Rev. Fr. Nicholaspillai Packiyaranjith was held amidst a massive gathering on Saturday the 29th Sept 2007 at St. Sebastian's Cathedral, Mannar.

His Lordship Bishop Rayappu Joseph, Bishop of Mannar presided at the funeral Mass together with Bishop Norbert Andradi OMI Bishop of Anuradhapura, a large number of priests and religious gathered from different dioceses, and a massive crowd of people. It was evident how much Fr. Ranjith has touched the lives of the people as the premises of the Cathedral got packed not only with Catholics, but also Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists. Displaced people of Mannar had travelled nearly 6-7 hours to pay their respect to the shepherd who came in search of them when they were lost in their own land and wounded in the ongoing civil war in the North & East. Poor people were crying and weeping, raising their hands for God's intervention in this carnage, flocked to see the face of Fr. Ranjith which was badly damaged and plastered due to the claymore explosion.

His mother who was crying loudly often as the people also sympathized with her and thanked her for the beautiful gift of life given for the suffering and displaced people of Mannar. His brother thanked everyone present in his speech and appreciated the love and concern shown to his brother Priest.

On 26th September, Fr. Ranjith with Mr. Eugene had left in a van load of relief supplies, trying to reach Vidathalvu, which he could have reached through Uylankulam within a half hour. Since the road was closed, he travlled almost 200km through Vavuniya, Omanthai and after reaching Mankulam, Fr. Ranjith has started driving thinking that Eugene his driver must be tired. It is on Pooneryn (Poonakari) Road, he was attacked with a claymore. The government agent in Mannar Mr. Nicholaspillai himself said in his speech at the funeral," I regret that Uylankulam road is closed, had it been opened Fr. Ranjith wouldn't have got killed".

" Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani - My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" was the Gospel theme taken by Rev. Fr. Nesaratnam to preach at the Mass. Fr. Nesaratnam said during the Pastoral year of their priestly formation, Fr. Ranjith was convinced very much to serve the poor and the displaced people, having seen and experienced their own life struggles. Priests and the lay faithful remain shocked still and bewildered as to what would future hold for them and the people.

The mortal remains of Fr. Ranjith was brought to the St. Theresa's Church, Kilinochchi at night on 26th Sept. and after the Holy Mass at 7.00 a.m., his mortal remains were transferred to the St. Anthony's Church, Vavuniya in the morning on 27th. After the Holy Mass in the morning on 28th Sept, his mortal remains were transferred to the Chapel in the Bishop's House, Mannar and then to the St. Sebastian's Cathedral, Mannar for the funeral on Saturday the 29th September.

Fr. Nicholaspillai was born in Jaffna on 11th June 1967 and was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Mannar on 17th December 1997. He has been an Assistant at Madhu Church, St. Sebastian's Church Vavuniya and St. Theresa's Church, Killinochchi. Thereafter he was assigned as the Diocesan Coordinator of Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS). Fr. Ranjith had been a very committed priest in the Mission of the Lord, very humble, soft spoken priest and a priest who could reach out to anyone with his convincing personality. Unable to hold the agonizing pain in the hearts with the lost of the beloved priests Fr. Ranjith, Priests of Mannar and His Lordship Bishop Rayappu Joseph were in full tears as the last funeral prayers were said. They knew that they have lost a very valuable priest who would have tended the displaced and shattered flock of Mannar.

For His Lordship Bishop Rayappu, it was the third priest lost in the civil war. Fr. Bastian was assassinated in 6th January 1985 and upto now no one knows as to how it happened and why he was killed, and then Fr. Jim Brown was killed in a mysterious way on 20th August 2006 in Allaipiddy and upto now the authority has failed to give information. And now Fr. Packiyaranjith was taken away.His Lordship Bishop Rayappu, therefore said," it is a heinous crime to attack and kill such peace-loving and unarmed champions of our society. Enough blood has flown on this little island nation. This blood cries for peace and not for vengeance ".

Town of Mannar came to standstill on 29th Sept.,shops remained closed and white and black flags were hoisted almost in every shop and on the rooftops of the building, as the body of was taken in a large procession for the burial.

His Lordship Bishop Rayappu Joseph in his funeral oration said, " I have lost the third priest in the diocese. Fr. Ranjith was killed but we donot know who did it and why they wanted to kill him who was deeply committed to look after the displaced and poor people in our diocese. We need to believe in God who would keep our hopes alive at least the blood shed by Fr. Ranjith would bring peace to our land." And after his oration, His Lordship Bishop Rayappu thanked Archbishop Oswald Gomis, the Archbishop of Colombo, for sending an immediate message of condolences together with a Press Release condemning the killing of Fr. Ranjith and sending a delegation on his behalf for the funeral and Bishop Rayappu also thanked Bishop Harold Anthony Perera Bishop of Galled and Bishop Norbert Andradi OMI Bishop of Anuradhapura for coming to pay last respect to Fr. Ranjith and thanked other others Bishops and everyone who had sent messages of condolences. Thereafter Bishop Rayappu read out the Press Release. 

Press Release of His Lordship Bishop Rayappu Joseph, Bishop of Mannar

Deeply saddened upon learning of the tragic death of Rev. Fr. Nicholaspillai Packiyaranjith, His Grace the Archbishop Oswald Gomis sent his deepest sympathies and condolences to His Lordship Bishop Rayappu Joseph and to clergy and the faithful in the Diocese of Mannar and especially to the members of the grieved family.

His Grace the Archbishop Oswald Gomis condemns the killing of Fr. Ranjith ;

" We were deeply shocked to hear the tragic death of Rev. Fr. Nicholaspillai Packiyaranjith killed in a claymore bomb explosion. We strongly condemn such acts of violence that inflicts pain and lost to the innocent civilians. We offer our deepest sympathies to His Lordship Bishop Rayappu Joseph, the Clergy and to the lay faithful of the Diocese of Mannar and especially to the members of the grieved family of Fr. Packiyaranjith.

With grateful recognition of Fr. Packiyaranjith's selfless service, as a committed priest of the Lord for His people, we offer fervent prayers that God, the Father of mercies, will grant him eternal rest and every spiritual consolation to those who mourn his passing.

This event brings us once more to the recognition that Peace is an urgent imperative. How long can this carnage continue ? This incident and the incidents of this nature should prick our conscience to realize the gravity of this situation and the need to establish peace immediately.

We pray that this incident will stir the peace process, so that he who has died, may not have died in vain."