Mary Bastian

Mary Bastian (1948 – 6 January 1985) was a Sri Lankan Tamil human rights activist and Catholic priest. He was shot and killed along with 10 other civilians on January 6, 1985, during the Sri Lankan Civil War, allegedly by the Sri Lankan Army. Our Lady of St. Anne's Church originally built during the Portuguese colonial period, an important landmark in Vankalai, where Fr. Mary Bastian was killed

Biography Mary Bastian born in Ilavalai in Jaffna district was ordained as a priest in the year 1975. He served as parish priest first at Manipay and later in Murunkan and Madhu in Mannar district.

Background During military offensives by the Sri Lankan Army in 1984 as part of the ongoing Sri Lankan civil war in Mannar region, Bastian and George Jeyarajasingham became the focal point of Human Rights activism on behalf of the local people. He was also the local contact for the Sri Lankan government appointed presidential committee to investigate Human Rights violations in the Mannar district.

Death On 6 January 1985, Bastian along with 10 others were shot allegedly by the Sri Lankan Army personnel, point blank range in front of the local St. Anne's church.

Reactions

Sri Lankan Government The National Security Minister denied that his forces had killed Bastian. The spokesperson was quoted as saying

Memorial The people of Vankalai later erected a statue of Mary Bastian in the compound of St Anne's Church in his memory.