Colleagues and relatives of a priest in Jaffna who went missing during the final days of the civil war are still hopeful of his return.

Father Joseph Francis, 79, has been missing since May 18, 2009, the last day of fighting between state forces and Tamil rebels in Mullivaikal village, northeastern Sri Lanka.

“We informed the authorities and continue to search because I hope he is alive, ” said Bishop Thomas Savundaranayagam of Jaffna.

Local people believe the priest is in a detention camp with Tamil rebels accused of fighting for a separate state. “I pray that he should come out alive” said Prasanth Selvaratnam, an NGO worker.

The Catholic Church is calling for justice for nine Tamil priests who were killed or have disappeared during the three decade long civil war.