| Type: | Bishop |
| Honorific-Prefix: | Rt Rev. |
| Rayappu Joseph | |
| Native Name: | இராயப்பு யோசப் |
| Native Name Lang: | ta |
| Bishop of Mannar | |
| Church: | Roman Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese: | Colombo |
| Diocese: | Mannar |
| Term Start: | 6 July 1992 |
| Term End: | 14 January 2016 |
| Predecessor: | Thomas Savundaranayagam |
| Birth Date: | 16 April 1940 |
| Birth Place: | Delft, Ceylon |
| Death Place: | Jaffna, Sri Lanka |
| Buried: | Sea |
| Alma Mater: | Pontifical Urbaniana University |
Bishop Rayappu Joseph (Tamil: இராயப்பு யோசப்; 16 April 1940 – 1 April 2021)[1] was a Sri Lanka Tamil prelate and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Mannar.[2] [3] [4]
Joseph was born on 16 April 1940 on the island of Neduntheevu in northern Ceylon to a practitioner of indigenous medicine[5] [6] [7] Living in Cheddikulam and Mannar during his early childhood, he was educated at St. Patrick's College, Jaffna.[8] [9] Joseph has a Doctor of Canon Law degree from the Pontifical Urbaniana University.[6]
Joseph was ordained as a priest in December 1967.[5] [6] He was a professor at the St Xavier's Seminary, Jaffna.[6] In July 1992 he was appointed Bishop of Mannar and was ordained as a bishop in October 1992.[5] [6]
Joseph has been a vocal critic of the Sri Lankan government/Sri Lankan military's conduct during the Sri Lankan Civil War and the country's human rights record.[10] [11] This has led to him being threatened by government supporters.[12]