Sri Lankan Tamil Family Genealogy

ULAGANATHAR of Manipay - Family #5006

1 Ulaganathar of Manipay

2 Ulaganathar Mathar, b:1650

3 Mathar (daughter), b:1690 + Suppar Viswanathar, b:1685 (s/o Poothar Suppar & d/o Sanmugasegara)

4 Viswanathar (daughter), b:1710 + Kadirgamar Muthalithamby, b:1700, (s/o Ramar Kadirgamar & d/o Mailakanakkar)

5 Vidane Mudalithamby Vairamuthu, b:1730 + d/o Thamukanakkar, b:1740 (d/o Viswanathar Thamukanakkar & d/o Kathirgamakanakkar)

6 Vairamuthu Kanapathipillai, b:1770 + Elizabeth Thambar, b:1775 (d/o Murugar Thambar & d/o Murugesu)

7 [1] Kanapathipillai Muttuthamby, b:1790 + [2] Name Not Known (Daughter-1 Manicavasagar), b:1795 (d/o Mudaliyar Subramaniam Manicavasagar of Nallur & Vairamuthu)

8 Mudaliyar Muttuthamby Subramaniam Maniagar of Vadamaarachchi, b:1815 + Name Not Known, b:1825 (d/o Rufus Bailey alias Mylvaganam, b:1800, sister of Alexander Bailey Mylvaganam)

9 Daniel Joseph, JP, b:2 Nov 1850, d:2-Jul-1930 + Mary Thangamma Rogers, b:20-Nov-1861, d:1894

10 S Victor C Joseph

10 Jemima Josephine Rasammah Joseph, b:31-Aug-1884, d:1950, + Joshua Alfred Aiyadurai, JP, 1880-1960, Proctor, Supreme Court, JP and Notary Public

11 Frederick Jeyaratnam Aiyadurai, d:1991 Plantation Manager + Joyce Allegakoen, d:12-Sep-2005

12 Astrid Aiyadurai

12 Ingrid Aiyadurai

11 Joshua William Aiyadurai (Willie), b:2-Dec-1910, d:8-Jan-1998, Senior journalist, Lake House Newspapers, Colombo Sri Lanka, Insurance Sales, Ceylon Insurance Corporation, Colombo + Muriel Esther Silva, b:8-May-1907, d:2-Mar-1984, Teacher and Vice Principal Methodist College Colombo, Sri Lanka, m:13-Dec-1937

12 Sunil Lotus Aiyadurai, b:aft 1916, d:25-May-2002, Teacher and Director, Edina Montessori School, Edina, Minnesota, USA

12 Mark Aiyadurai + Ruth Eva Bohl, b:aft 1916, Manuals Administrator, Coast Capital Savings Credit Union, Financial Services Representative Primerica Insurance Corporation, m:28-Apr-1978

13 Jeremy Gary William Aiyadurai, Web Developer, Reliable Controls Corporation, Victoria BC

13 Jonathan Mark Aiyadurai, Undergraduate, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

13 Justin Theo Aiyadurai

12 Carol Rohini Aiyadurai, Reporter + Hubert Aloysious, d:1987 (s/o Santhiapillai Aloysious & Anne Gardiner)

13 Jehan Aloysious

13 Hiranjan Aloysious

12 Aprille Manohari Aiyadurai + Freud Yogarajah Thambimuttu, d:1990 (s/o Paulinus Thambimuttu & Loretta Spaulding)

11 Walter Arasaratnam Aiyadurai, d:1999, Plantation Manager, Adminstrative Manager Tea Tang Ltd. Colombo, Sri Lanka + Edna Leelawathie Bartlett, m:25-Jan-1954

12 Aiyadurai

11 Ruby Aiyadurai, d:1996 + John Vethavanam, Radio Officer

12 Manohari Vethavanam + Ramanathan

13 Nicola Ramanathan

13 Soren Ramanathan

12 Captain Duleep Vethavanam, Pilot Sri Lankan Airlines + Dilani

13 Dinesh Vethavanam

13 D Vethavanam

11 Sister Pearl Ratnammah Aiyadurai, d:10-Sep-2005, Preacher, Ceylon Pentecostal Mission

10 Edgar Ernest Aiyadurai Joseph, b:10-Jul-1890, d:9-Jun-1956, Advocate & Solicitor, Seramban, Malaysia + Daisy Rogers, b:31-Aug-1900, d:12-Jun-1982

11 Nancy Joseph, d:2-Sep-1998 + Gunam Thamotheram, d:30-Nov-1988, Dir of Irrigation

12 Dilani Thamotheram + Mohan Thambyah, m:16-Aug-1974

13 Avril Thambyah

13 Arjunan Thambyah

12 Rukmani Thamotheram + Elmo Pedurupillai Joseph, m:15-Aug-1981

12 Sharmini Thamotheram, Accountant + Jayantha Ratnasingham, m:24-Jan-1987

13 Joshua Ratnasingham

13 Andrew Ratnasingham

12 Kumudini Thamotheram + Ajit Satkunam, m:25-May-1989

13 Jessica Satkunam

13 Rebecca Satkunam

12 Shantini Thamotheram + Earl Rajanayagam, m:6-Apr-1991

13 Shehan Rajanayagam

11 Phyllis Joseph + Wing Cmdr Kenneth Nagarajah, RCyAF, ADC to the Governor General of Ceylon, Executive Brown & Co Ltd.

12 Prof C Romesh Nagarajah, Prof Swinburne University, Australia + Shirani Appadurai, m:1977

13 Dr Shyanthri Nagarajah

13 Nilushan Nagarajah

12 Rohith Nagarajah + Srini

13 Thikshana Nagarajah

13 Kanishka Nagarajah

12 Roshini Nagarajah + Priyan Gunasekera, m:26-12-1981

13 Geshri Michele Gunasekera

13 Shriyan Christopher Gunasekera

12 Charmini Nagarajah, Accountant, Finance Directror Hayleys Ltd.

11 Leela Joseph, d:27-Mar-1999 + William Ernest Chelliah Jebanesam, Suptd of Police, Sri Lanka, d:27-Mar-1999

12 Chandrakumar Jebanesam + Savitri Sittampalam, m:6-Jan-1971

13 Anusha Jebanesam

13 Ravin Jebanesam

13 Arvin Jebanesam

12 Kularaj Jebanesam + Girija Ponnadurai, m:10-Sep-1977

13 Nishan Jebanesam

13 Niroshana Jebanesam

12 Naomi Jebanesam, Teacher Methodist College, Colombo, Sri Lanka + Mahendraraj Watson

13 Radhika Samanatham Watson

13 Suren Kularaj Watson

12 Lilani Jebanesam, Secretary Department of Opthalmology, Australia + Rudran Shanmuganathan, m:5-Feb-1977

13 Dinesh Shanmuganathan

13 Rumesh Shanmuganathan

13 Shanya Shanmuganathan

11 Isabel Joseph (Chuch) + Justice Benedict Gerard Stanislaus David, DC Judge, b:31-Dec-1909, Chief Magistrate of Colombo, President SL Football Federation, d:4-Feb-1984 (was married to Helen Amybelle Joseph, d:6-Aug-2004, m:1939 and has a child Aswini Kumar David married to N Rohini Leula whose child is Amrit N David)

12 Vasanthi Marie David + Vijith Ratnayake, Toyota Australia, m:24-Jul-1985

13 Ashanthi Ratnayake

13 Shiranthi Ratnayake

11 Esme Joseph, d:18-Nov-1986

10 Albert Rogers Chellathurai Joseph 1885-1944 + Florence Nesammah Alexander 1893-1970

11 Daniel Reginald Jeyapalan Joseph, d:25-Jun-1995 + Indira Hensman, d:23-May-1987

12 Shalini Indira Joseph + Terry Reilly

12 Vinodhini (Vino) Saroja Joseph + Michael McGetrick

13 James McGetrick

13 Alastair McGetrick

11 Jessie Kirupadevi Joseph, d:Oct 1994 + Dr Edward Reginald Nesaratnam Hensman, d:10-Aug-1999

12 Name Not Known

13 Name Not Known

12 Rajive Hensman + Julie Baker, m:24-Jul-1999

13 Michelle Hensman

11 Marjorie Manoranjitham Joseph

10 Daniel Endymeon Ponnathurai Joseph, b:15-Sep-1988, Inspector Dept of Health, Kandy Municipality + Margaret Grace Annamah Virakiam, m:1920

11 Dr Percy Alfred Paramasingham Joseph, d:12-Dec-1994 + Pamela Hoole, d:15-Dec-1989, m:1947

12 Ingrid Rajini Joseph + Bernard Pactet

12 Shereen Shanthini Joseph + Franklin Jacob, m:15-Nov-1990, Police, Planter, Trinity College Administrator

12 Trevor Joseph, d:1996 + Mahal Alexander

13 Dimitri Joseph

13 Stephano Joseph

11 Pearl Joseph, d:1992 + Dr Wilfred Reynold Nesathurai Nathaneal, b:15-Jan-1915, m:24-Jun-1950

12 Dr Shirani Nathaneal

12 Ranjit Nathaneal

11 Ariam Joseph + Sakuntala Ariaratnam

11 Arasu Joseph + Gladys Edwards

10 A C Rasadurai Joseph, 1894-1947

9 2nd spouse of Daniel Joseph (alias Subramaniam Manicavasagar) JP, Planter, b:2 Nov 1850, d:2-Jul-1930 + Alice Ponnammah Rogers, b:15-Nov-1875, d:25-Jul-1910, m:1895

10 Felix Hector Poornathurai Joseph, Auctioneer & Broker, b:26-Aug-1900, d:30-Nov-1987 + Rasapoomani Rajaratnam (Girlie), b:4-Dec-1905, d:12-Mar-1985, m:1935

11 Rukmani Joseph, Solicitor Supreme Court NSW, Australia + Eliel Homer Titus, b:1916, d:14-May-2005, Entomologist, m:17-Jun-1961

12 R J S Titus, Urologist + Fiona Lea Kelly, Radiographer, m:5-Dec-1998

13 Alexander James Titus

13 Samuel Finlay Titus

12 Rohan Virendra Selvadurai Titus + Sandra Margaret Muttukumaru, Teacher, m:17-Sep-1994

13 Charlotte Hope Annapurani Titus

12 Dr Kamini Hiranthi Titus, Orthodontist + Dr Anthony Raymond Min-Tak Au, Prosthodontist

13 Daniel Henry Kar-Wing Au

13 Andrew David Kar-Shuen Au

13 Thomas Joseph Kar-Yan Au

11 Wijeyandran Joseph, Engineer + Dr Shikandhini Dayita Paul, m:21-Feb-1970

12 Dinusha Sonali Joseph, Barrister & Solicitor Supreme Court of Victoria + John Tesarsch, Barrister & Solicitor Supreme Court of Victoria, m:8-Nov-2003

12 Shirin Joseph

11 Shanti Joseph, d:Nov-1989 + Subramaniam Moryadas, m:1-Sep-1954

12 Yashvant Moryadas + Irene Dekhtyar, m:8-Sep-1998

11 2nd spouse of Shanti Joseph, d:Nov-1989 + Richard Aiyadorai, d:2000, m:26-Dec-1959

11 3rd spouse of Shanti Joseph, d:Nov-1989 + Bryan Stevens, m:16-Jul-1981, d:6-Dec-2005

10 Lily Sophia Arulammah Joseph, b:15-Aug-1902, d:6-Feb-1999, Music Teacher, + Dr Walter Albert Thomas, b:22-Feb-1893, d:17-Jun-1969, m:30-Jan-1933

11 Lilian Daphne Suhasini Thomas, Music Teacher + Andrew James Joseph, d:23-Mar-2002, Under Secretary General of the UN & Associate Administrator UNDP, m:25-Jun-1959

12 Ravindranath James Joseph, Investment Banker, MD Securitization, Morgan Stanley UK + Sarah Jane Beekley, Paediatrician, m:6-Jan-1986

13 Anjalie Jane Joseph

13 Lauren Elizabeth Joseph

12 2nd spouse of Ravindranath James Joseph, Investment Banker, MD Securitization, Morgan Stanley UK + Anne Lenahan O'Connell, Investment Banker, m:12-Oct-1997

13 Cassidy Anne Joseph

13 India Lilly Joseph

13 Roman James Joseph

12 Nilufer Evangeline Joseph

11 Frederick Joseph Amarnath Thomas

11 Bertram Winstron Rajaram Thomas

10 Arthur Hercules Ratnathurai Joseph MBE, b:8-Jan-1899, d:22-Dec-1957, Teacher Trinity College, Lecturer Achimota College, Ghana + Evelyn Dora Plumptre, b:6-Oct-1903, d:5-Sep-1995, Teacher in Ghana, m:Dec-1937

11 Christopher Ariaratnam Joseph

11 Helen Kamala Joseph, Teacher + John Graham Rolfe

12 Clare Elizabeth Rolfe

12 Timothy Robert Rolfe

7 Kanapathipillai (daughter) + Vaithianathar Kanthappar (alias Jenkins)

8 Edward Candappar Muttuveloe + Jane Ponnammah Rajasooriyar

9 Marcus Richard Jebaratnam + Poornam Backus

9 Enid Samathanaranee Muthuvelu + Rev Josiah Visuvasa Jeyasunderam Arnold, Minister Jaffna Diocese, CSI

10 Jenkins Rajasegaran Arnold + Mary Pathmini Mather

11 Evangeline Jeyadarshini Arnold + Jayaratnam Stephen Shanmugam

12 Elmo Stephen Shanmugam

11 Michael Jeyasegaran Arnold

11 Selwyn Vijayasegaran Arnold

11 Russel Premkumaran Arnold (Cricketer, Sri Lanka XI)

10 Samuel Thevabalan Arnold + Wimalarani Somanader

11 Joel Vijith Jebakumaran Arnold + Dr Nilusha Oalagasegaram

12 Hannah Shemarah Arnold

11 Noeline Sherina Arnold

10 Dr Kirupa Arnold

10 Rev Chandran Arnold

10 Ranee Arnold + Lyman

10 Sunthari Arnold + Somanader

10 Vathana Arnold + Kadirgamar

8 daughter + Naganathar Appaiyah

8 daughter + Upathesiar Rasiah Robes

8 daughter

7 Kanapathipillai (daughter) + Sinnathamby Sabapathy

6 Sinachchi Vairamuthu + Sittampalam Arunasalam (was married previously to the third daughter of Kasipillai and has three daughters from this marriage)

7 Arunasalam Praisoody

8 daughter

7 daughter + Neelayinar Moothathamby

6 Nagesapillai Vairamuthu + Ponnambalam Nagamuttar

7 Nagamuttar Eliyathamby + Ms Sittampalam

7 Nagamuttar Arulampalam

7 daughter + Mudaliyar Sabapathy Viswalingam

8 Viswalingam Karthigesu

8 Viswalingam Seniar

8 Viswalingam Sinnadurai

8 daughter + Sithampalanathar Ramalingam

8 daughter + Thiilaiampalam 0f Kadduddai

8 daughter + Murugar Muththaiyar

8 daughter

7 daughter

6 Sinnakutty Vairamuthu + Veeragathiar Murugesu

7 Murugesu Kulasegarampillai + Eldest Daughter Sinnathamby

8 Kulasegarampillai Thambirajah Hastings + Harriet Mathiaparanam Mather

9 Herbert Hastings + Nesam Kulathungam

10 Shantini Hastings (Shirley(

10 Wijendran Hastings + Thayalini Rajasingham

9 Wilbert Hastings

9 Julius Hastings + Pearl Atchuthan

10 Rohini Hastings + Cedric Stephen

11 Shehan Stephen

10 Rajini Hastings + Tissa Atukorale

11 Sharnel Athukorala

11 Ashwan Athukorala

9 Juliet Alagmalar Hastings + Joseph Sigismund Nicholas

10 Charmaine Nicholas + Lesley Rajanathan Stanley Mather

11 Lalith Gihan Mather + Vasanthi Ponnambalam

11 Ruth Dashika Mather Dayanandakumar Rasaratnam

12 Dinushriya Rasaratnam

11 Romesh Mather

10 George Manoraj Nicholas + Shantha Devi Nathaneal

11 Premjit Rajeev Nicholas + Sandrene Lepretre

12 Nathan George Nicholas

12 Keziah Mary Nicholas

9 Rosa Hastings + Walter Nicholas

10 Sakunthala Nicholas = Dr C Singharajah

11 Roshini Singarajah

11 Roshan Singarajah

11 Dilan Singarajah

10 Suvendrini Nicholas + Rohan Abeysekera

11 Dilshani Abeysekera

11 Ambrith Abeysekera

10 Chitrani Nicholas + Panchan Ratnesar

11 Anushri Ratnesar

11 Sherika Ratnesar

11 Ashana Ratnesar

9 Regina Hastings + Benjamin A Thambapillai

10 Ajanthamala Thambapillai + Samuel Sri Rajan Curtis

11 Rushika Curtis

11 Premjit Curtis

9 Anjelina Rasamalar Hastings + Samuel Aiyathurai Backus

10 George Ranjitkumar Backus + Manel

11 Shivanthi Backus

11 Dinesh Backus

11 Romesh Backus

10 Rex Wijeyakumar Backus + Ramona

10 Patricia Rohini Backus + Thasan Ponniah

11 Suhanya Ponniah

11 Ashan Ponniah

10 Winston Indrakumar Backus + Sonali

11 Shivantha Backus

11 Simone Backus

11 Shanaz Backus

10 Dawn Padmini Backus

9 Mabel Hastings + Christy Vairavapillai

10 Rabindra Vyravipillai + Summathy Anandam

11 Ranjana Vyravipillai + Rajan Abraham

12 Andrew Abraham

12 Romaine Abraham

11 Chrisanthini Vyravipillai + Satyendra Tilakaraj Arulampalam

12 Rajkumar Arulampalam

12 Radhika Arulampalam

7 Eldest Daughter Murugesu + Swaminathan Arunasalam

8 Arunasalam Swaminathapillai

8 Arunasalam Eliathamby

8 Arunasalam Kathirithamby

8 Arunasalam Sundarampillai

8 Daughter-1 Arunasalam

8 Daughter-2 Arunasalam

8 Daughter-3 Arunasalam

8 Daughter-4 Arunasalam

7 Second Daughter Murugesu + Suppar Moothathamby

7 Murugesu Saravanamuttu + Third Daughter Sinnen

7 Murugesu Kanapathipillai + Daughter Myelar

6 Daughter-4 Vairamuthu, b:1770 + Mudaliyar Subramaniam Manicavasagar of Nallur, b:1765, Chief Trustee of Nallur Kandasamy Temple

7 [2] Daughter-1 Manicavasagar + [1] Kanapathipillai Muthuthamby, b:1790

8 Mudaliyar Muttuthamby Subramaniam Maniagar of Vadamurachi, b:1815, Maniagar of Vadamarachchi before 1915 + Daughter Mylvaganam b:before 1825

9 Daniel Joseph JP aka Subramaniam Manicavasagar, b:2-11-1850, d:2-7-1930, Planter + Mary Thangamma Rogers, b:20-11-1861, d:1894

10 S Victor C Joseph

10 Jemimah Josephine Rosamma Joseph, b:31-8-1884, d:1950 + Joshua Alfred Aiyadurai JP, b:1880, d:1960, Proctor Supreme Court, JP & Notary Public

11 Frederick Jeyaratnam Aiyadurai, b:1991, Plantation Manager + Joyce Allegakoen, d:12-9-2005

12 Astrid Aiyadurai

12 Ingrid Aiyadurai + L W Mayadunne

13 Melantha Mayadunne

11 Joshua William Aiyadurai (Willie), b:2-12-1910, d:8-1-1998, Senior journalist, Lake House Newspapers, Colombo Sri Lanka, Insurance Sales, Ceylon Insurance Corporation, Colombo + Muriel Esher Silva, b:8-5-1907, d:2-3-1984, Teacher/Vice Principal Methodist College Colombo, Sri Lanka

12 Sunil Lotus Aiyadurai, b:19-9-1939, d:25-5-2002, Teacher and Director, Edina Montessori School, Edina, Minnesota, USA

12 Mark Aiyadurai + Ruth Eva Bohl, Manuals Administrator, Coast Capital Savings Credit Union, Financial Services Representative Primerica Insurance Corporation

13 Jeremy Gary William Aiyadurai, Web Developer, Reliable Controls Corporation, Victoria BC

13 Jonathan Mark Aiyadurai, Undergraduate, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

13 Justin Theo Aiyadurai

12 Carol Rohini Aiyadurai, Reporter + Hubert Aloysious, d:1987

13 Jehan Aloysius

13 Hiranjan Aloysius

12 Aprille Manohari Aiyadurai + Fred Yogarajah Tambimuttu, d:1990

11 Walter Arasaratnam Aiyadurai, b:17-8-1918, d:1999, Plantation Manager, Adminstrative Manager Tea Tang Ltd. Colombo, Sri Lanka + Edna Leelawathie Bartlett

12 Name Not Known

11 Ruby Aiyadurai, d:1996 + John Vethavanam, Radio Officer

12 Manohari Vethavanam + Ramanathan

13 Nicola Ramanathan

13 Soren Ramanathan

12 Captain Duleep Vethavanam, Pilot Sri Lankan Airlines + Dilani

13 Dinesh Vethavanam

13 D Vethavanam

11 Sister Pearl Ratnammah Aiyadurai, d:10-9-2005, Preacher, Ceylon Pentecostal Mission

10 Edgar Ernest Aiyathurai Joseph, b:10-7-1890, d:9-6-1956, Advocate & Solicitor, Seramban, Malaysia + Daisy Rodgers, b:31-8-1900, d:12-6-1982

11 Nancy Joseph, b:27-2-1921, d:2-9-1998 + Gunam Thamotheram, b:13-6-1919, d:30-11-1988, Director of Irrigation

12 Dilani Thamotheram + Mohan Thambyah

13 Avril Thambyah

13 Arjunan Thambyah

12 Rukmani Thamotheram + Elmo Pedurupillai Joseph

12 Sharmini Thamotheram, Accountant + Jayantha Ratnasingham

13 Joshua Ratnasingham

13 Andrew Ratnasingham

12 Kumudini Thamotheram + Ajit Satkunam

13 Jessica Satkunam

13 Rebecca Satkunam

12 Shantini Thamotheram + Earl Rajanayagam

13 Shehan Rajanayagam

11 Phyllis Joseph, b:17-11-1916 + Wing Commander Kenneth Nagarajah, d:31-8-2004 Wing Commander, Royal Ceylon Airforce, ADC to the Governor-General of Ceylon, Executive at Brown & Co Ceylon

12 Professor C Romesh Nagarajah + Shirani Appadurai

13 Dr Shyanthri Nagarajah

13 Nilushan Nagarajah

12 Rohith Nagarajah + Srini

13 Thikshana Nagarajah

13 Kanishka Nagarajah

12 Roshini Nagarajah + Priyan Goonesekera

13 Geshri Michele Gunasekera

13 Shriyan Christopher Gunasekera

12 Charmini Nagarajah Accountant, Finance Director Hayleys

11 Leela Joseph, b:13-4-1918, d:27-3-1999 + William Ernest Chelliah Jebanesam, b:4-12-1918, d:27-3-1999, Superintendent of Police, Sri Lanka

12 Chandrakumar Jebanesam + Savitri Sittampalam

13 Anusha Jebanesam

13 Ravin Jebanesam

13 Arvin Jebanesam

12 Kularaj Jebanesam + Giriji Ponnadurai

13 Nishan Jebanesam

13 Niroshana Jebanesam

12 Naomi Jebanesam Teacher Methodist College, Colombo + Mahendraraj Watson

13 Radhika Samathanam Watson

13 Suren Kularaj Watson

12 Lilani Jebanesam Secretary Dept of Opthalmology Australia + Rudran Shanmuganathan

13 Dinesh Shanmuganathan

13 Rumesh Shanmuganathan

13 Shanya Shanmuganathan

11 Isabel Joseph + Justice Benedict Gerard Stanislaus David, b:31-12-1909, d:4-2-1984, District Court Judge, Chief Magistrate of Colombo, President of the Sri Lanka Football Federation

12 Vasanthi Marie David + Vijith Ratnayaka, Mixed Room Specialist, Paint Division, Toyota Motor Corporation, Australia

13 Ashanthi Ratnayake

13 Shiranthi Ratnayake

11 Esme Joseph

10 Albert Rogers Chellathurai Joseph

10 Daniel Endymeon Ponnathurai Joseph

10 A C Rasadurai Joseph b:17-7-1924, d:18-11-1986

7 Manicavasagar Ponnambalam b:1790 + Eldest Daughter Sittampalam

7 Daughter-2 Manicavasagar b:1800 + Kanapathipillai Muthuthamby, b:1790

6 Vairamuthu Sittampalam'

6 Vairamuthu Swaminathar

5 Mudalithamby Sinnethamby

5 Muthalithamby Kathirgamar

5 Muthalithamby Viswanathar

5 Muthalithamby (daughter)

4 Viswanathar Thamukanakkar

4 Viswanathar (daughter)

3 Mathar Kathirgamakanakkar, b:1670 + d/o Udaiyar Poothar of Manipay, b:1670

4 Kathirgamakanakkar Thillaiampalam + Eldest daughter of Mudaliyar Ponnambalam Thiagarajah & d/o Rajavaseekara

5 Mudaliyar Thillaiambalam Arunasalam + eldest daughter of Udaiar Kathgirgamar Velauthar & d/o Kathirgamakanakkar

6 Arunachalam Ponnambalam, Mudaliyar of the Governer's Gate + Sellachchi Coomaraswamy of Manipay (sister of Sir Muttu Cumaraswamy) [5013]

7 Ponnambalam Coomaraswamy, MLC SC 1849-1905 + older daughter of Mudaliyar Namasivayam [5018]

7 Ponnambalam Ramanathan KCMG MLC, Sir, 1851-1930 + Sellachchi Ammal (second d/o Mudaliyar E Nannithamby)

Born:16-Apr-1851 at Sea Street, Colombo. Educated under his maternal uncle, Sir Muttu Cumaraswamy, Royal College Colombo (1859-1864), Presidency College Madras. Student of Law in 1873 under A.G. Richard Morgan. Called to the Bar in 1876. MLC 1879-1892. Soliciter General 1892-1906. Lectured in the USA on 5-Jan-1905. Knighted in 1921. Appointed by Governor, Sir James London, to prepare circulars at the Supreme Council. Re-constructed Ponnambalam Kovil in 1907. Established Post Offoce Savings Bank in 1881. Fought for Wesak Holiday in 1885. Represented Vallikaman seat LC in 1924. Closely associated with H.S. Olcott, Freedom Fighter. Established Ramanathan College for Girls in 1913, Parameswara College for Boys in 1921. Member, University Site Committee. Works include, Review of St. John and St. Matthew in 1901. Translated Baghvat Gita from Sanskrit to Tamil in 1904. Martial Law in Ceylon, 1915. Died:26-Nov-1930

8 Sivakolunthu Ramanathan + Hallock Rajanathan b:1890, Lawyer (5029)

9 Mangayatkarasi Rajanathan

9 Devi Janaki Rajanathan

9 Saravanamuthu Rajanathan

9 Rajanathan Devasenapathy

9 Rajanathan Parameshvaran

9 Major Rajanathan Kirupanandan

9 Rajanathan Sri Balasubramaniam

9 Karunakadachani Rajanathan

8 Ramanathan Mahesan

8 Ramanathan Rajendra

8 Ramanathan Vamadevan

8 Daughter Ramanathan + T Muttukumaraswamy 1873-1927 (s/o Mudaliyar Shanmugam Tambyah, brother-in-law of E. Nanniathamby) [5019]

8 Rukmini Ramanathan

7 2nd spouse of Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan KC 1851-1930 m:1874 + Miss R.L. Harrison (USA)

7 Ponnambalam Arunachalam, CCS Sir, 1853-1924 + Swarnan (d/o Mudaliyar Namasivayam of Manipay) m:1883 [5018]

Born:14-Sep-1853 in Colombo. Educated at Colombo Academy (Royal College). Won Queen's Scholarship and entered Christ's College, Cambridge in 1871. Obtained MA and returned to Ceylon in 1875. Entered CCS in 1875. Attached to GA's Office Colombo. Polioce Magistrate and Commissioner, Kalpitiya, Puttalam, Matara, Matale, Kalutara & Colombo. DJ Chilaw, Kegalle, Batticaloa, Kurunegala (1902-1905). Registrar General 1888-1902 & 1905. Conducted Census in 1901. MLC 1907-1913. Knighted in 1913 and resigned from Government Service in the same year. Proceeded to England to specialize in Social Service Work. President, Ceylon University Association 1906. Vice President, Ceylon Agricultural Society in 1906. Established Social Service Front in 1915. Established Ceylon Reform League on 17-May-1917. Delivered famous speech on "Our Political Needs" on 2-Apr-1917. Formed the first Trade Union in Ceylon on 11-Dec-1919. First President CNC (1919-1922). Agitated for the establishment of a University, University Male Franchise. Established Ceylon Workers' Federation in Feb-1920. Formed Ceylon Tamil Association in 1920. Resigned from CNC in 1922. Formed Jaffna Mahajana Sabha with his brother Ramanathan in 1921. President RAS (CB). Works include, Sketches of Ceylon History, Digest of Civil Law in Ceylon 1919. Died:9-Jan-1924

8 Arunachalam Mahadeva, Sir b:5-Oct-1885, d:8-Jun-1969

9 Balakumar (Baku) Mahadeva

10 Kumar Mahadeva + Name Not Known (USA)

9 Swarnam Mahadeva, d:Feb 12 2007 + Professor Tambyah Nadaraja

obit: Daily News Tuesday Feb 12 2007

NADARAJA - SWARNAM Beloved wife of the late Professor Tambyah Nadaraja, daughter of Sir Arunachalam & lady Sivahami Mahadeva, sister of Balakumara Mahadeva and sister-in-law of Sundari, Mahadevi and Maheswari. Cremation on Tuesday 13th February at 3 p.m. at Crematorium General Cemetery Kanatta. Cortege leaves No. 5, Arunachalam Avenue, Horton Place, Colombo 7 at 2.30 p.m.

8 [2] Sivanandam Arunachalam + [1] Thambyah Murugaser, 1868-1904 (5019)

9 [3] Thambyah Murugaser 1923-1994 + [4] Maheswary Ramanathan, b1927

10 [8] Sarala Murugaser, b:1948 + Sega Nagendra

11 [10] Kshirabdhi Nagendra + Jekhan Aruliah

12 [12] Karnan Aruliah

11 [13] Prashan Nagendra + Chemeli Jayasinghe m:2011

10 [9] Pratap Murugaser, b:1949 + Manju Sathasiwam

11 [11] Jehan Murugaser

10 [5] Suresh Murugaser, b:1956 + Tarika Muthu Krishna (div)

11 [6] Divya Murugaser, b:1986

11 [7] Archana Murugaser, b:1988
10 2nd spouse of [5] Suresh Murugaser, b:1956 + Neelika Subashini Kannangara, m:5 Apr 2010

8 Arunachalam Ramanathan + Vamadevi Vyramuttan

9 [4] Maheswary Ramanathan, b:1927 + [3] Thambyah Murugaser 1923-1994

10 [8] Sarala Murugaser, b:1948 + Sega Nagendra

11 [10] Kshirabdhi Nagendra, b: 1973, d:25 Mar 2013 + Jekhan Aruliah

12 [12] Karnan Aruliah

11 [13] Prashan Nagendra + Chemeli Jayasinghe m:2011

10 [9] Pratap Murugaser, b:1949 + Manju Sathasiwam

11 [11] Jehan Murugaser

10 [5] Suresh Murugaser, b:1956 + Tarika Muthu Krishna (div)

11 [6] Divya Murugaser, b:1986

11 [7] Archana Murugaser, b:1988

10 2nd spouse of [5] Suresh Murugaser, b:1956 + Neelika Subashini Kannangara, m:5 Apr 2010

7 Mudaliyar Ponnambalam Padmanaba

3 Mathar Kasikanakkar, b:1695 + only daughter of Kanthar, b:1700

4 Kasikanakkar Sinnathamby + only daughter of Vinasithamby

5 Sinnathamby Arumugaththar + Sinnachchi Vairamuthu (ex wife of Sittampalam Arunasalam by whom she had Arunasalam Praisoody , and an only daughter Arunasalam)

6 Daughter-1 Arumugaththar + Suppar Arumugam

7 Arumugam Muththuthamby + Third Daughter Marimuthu

6 Arumugaththar Arunasalam + Only Daughter Somasunderam

6 Daughter-2 Arumugaththar

5 Sinnathamby Vinasithamby + Second Daughter Kasipillai

6 Daughter-1 Vinasithamby + Subramaniar Sinnethamby

7 Sinnathamby Arunasalam + Eldest Daughter Ramar

7 Daughter Sinnathamby + Naganathar Muthuthamby

8 Muththuthamby Nagalingam

8 Daughter-1 Muththuthamby

8 Daughter-2 Muththuthamby

8 Daughter-3 Muththuthamby

6 Daughter-2 Vinasithamby + Subramaniar Muthuthamby

7 Muttuthamby Appadurai + Daughter Nanniyar

7 Daughter-1 Muttuthamby + Subramaniar Ponniah of Navaly

7 Daughter-2 Muttuthamby + Kanthar Eliyathamby

6 Daughter-3 Vinasithamby + Subramaniar Muthalithamby

7 Muthalithamby Subramaniam + Second Daughter Sinnethamby

7 Daughter-1 Muthalithamby + Sinnathamby Thamotharar

7 Daughter-2 Muthalithamby + Velauthar Sithampalanathar

6 Vinasithamby Sinnathamby + Second Daughter Subramaniar

7 Daughter-1 + Velupillai Arunasalam

7 Daughter-2 + Muthalithamby Subramaniam

6 Vinasithamby Ponnampalam

5 Sinnathamby Thamotharar + Eldest daughter Sinnathamby

6 Thamotharar Suppar

6 Thamotharar Nannithamby + Eldest Daughter Muthalithamby

7 Nannithamby Selladurai

7 Nannithamby Somasunderam

7 Nannithamby Kuddithamby

7 Daughter-1 Nannithamby + Thilaiambalam Thambipillai

8 Daughter

7 Daughter-2 Nannithamby + Eliyathamby Maruthappu

6 Daughter-1 Thamotharar + Sivasangariyar Karthigesu

7 Karthigesu Muttuthamby + Third daughter Saravanamuttu

7 Karthigesu Suppiah + Daughter Vaithalingam

7 Karthigesu Ariyanayagam + Annamma Lawton

7 Karthigesu Savundaranayagam

7 Daughter-1 Karthigesu + Ampalavanar Velupillai

7 Daughter-2 Karthigesu + Muthuthamby Velupillai

7 Daughter-3 Karthigesu + Sinnathamby Maruthapaillai of Annaicottai

6 Daughter-2 Thamotharar + Nagamuttu Velupillai

7 Velupillai Aiyadurai

5 Sinnathamby Saravanamuttu + Fourth Daughter Sinnathamby

6 Second Daughter Saravanamuttu + Thomas Mather

7 Muttuvelu Aiyathurai

8 Winston Churchill Reynalds

7 Sinnammah Mather + Ariyacuddy Layman

8 Rajasundaram Lyman + Jane Razamany

9 Alwin Thevakirupai Lyman + Joy Thambiah

9 Joharatnam Lyman + Christina Jayaranee Arnold

10 Josiah Jeyamohan Lyman + Charmaine Thurairajah

11 Jason Lyman

10 Joanita Swarnajothy Lyman + Reggie Juvaraj

9 Robin Wijeyaratnam Lyman + Grace Sugirtharatnam

8 Thambiayah Lyman

8 Nesaratnam Lyman + Kanapathipilla Duraisamy

9 Flora Nesaranjitham Duraisamy + Lesley Selvaratnam Bartlett

10 Thalayan Bartlett

10 Iswary Bartlett

9 Mercy Nesadevi Duraisamy + Leslie Selvanathan Carpenter

10 Bertram Devaseelan Carpenter

10 Christine Savithri Carpenter

8 Sugirtharatnam Lyman + Rasanayagam Alagaratnam

9 Alagamani Alagaratnam + Albert Selvaratnam Nathaniel

10 Elmo Nathaniel

10 Wijeyarajan Nathaniel

10 Caroline Sugirthanjini Nathaniel

8 Albert Selvaratnam Lyman + Winifred Sugitharatnam Mather

9 Joy Winifred Kirupairatnam Lyman + William Alagaratnam

7 Sellamma Mather + Selliah Lawton

8 Ponnampalam Lawton + Selvanayaki Vairavanathan

9 Selvarajah Lawton

9 Balendran Lawton

9 Ponmalar Lawton + Vaithialaingam Vanniasekaram

10 Sivantha Vanniasekeram

10 Dushiyantha Vanniasekeram

10 Arivintha Vanniasekeram

10 Bharghiratha Vanniasekeram

9 Selvamalar Lawton + Veeragathy Selvarajah

10 Sharmila Selvarajah

10 Manoprabitha Selvarajah

8 Nallammah Lawton + Visuwalingam Veerasingham JP

8 Nagammah Lawton + Selladurai Selvaratnam

6 Third Daughter Saravanamuttu + Ariyacuddiar Swaminathapillai

6 Saravanamuttu Appapillai + Fourth Daughter Saravanamuthu

6 Valliammai Saravanamuttu + Thambapillai Payson

7 Sellammah Payson + Saravanamuttu Supramaniam

8 Supramaniam Saravanamuthu + Kulamani Alexander Mather

9 Leela Saravanamuthu + E C Chelvarajan

9 Leslie Saravanamuthu + Winifred Christobel Ariamalar Hunt

10 Sherine Saravanamuthu = Rajan Jesudasan

10 Tanya Saravanamuthu + Mark Rasaiah

9 Vimala Saravanamuthu + Titty Paul

10 Name Not Known

10 Name Not known

8 Annalakshmi Supramaniam + Muhandiram Swaminathanpillai Lawton

9 Maheswari Swaminathan + Jabaratnam Canagasabey

10 Mahesan Canagasabay + Pathminidevi Namasivayam

11 Shayameera Canagasabay + K Kugathasan

11 Shayanudha Canagasabay + S Sivakandan

11 Karthisha Shayaramoshan Canagasabay

10 Ranjitkumar Canagasabay + Thanga

9 Saraswathy Swaminathan + Dr Ramakrishna Thyagarajah

9 Rajeswari Swaminathan + Dr Nathaniel Arnold Jeyarajah Niles

10 Rajeswaran Niles + Philomena Ranjini Joseph

10 Jeganathan Niles

10 Rohan Niles + Edith Lewis

7 Rasammah Payson + Subramaniam Karthgesu

8 Karthigesu Arasaratnam + Nagapooshany Eliyathamby

9 Name Not Known

8 Karthigesu Alagaratnam + Daughter Arasaratnam

8 Dr Karthigesu Seevaratnam + Sundaram

9 Seevaratnam Bala Iswaran + Naguleswari Sivasubramaniam

9 Seevaratnam Wigneswaran + Indrani Kanagaratnam

9 Seevaratnam Ratneswaran + Daughter Lucas

9 Indrawathie Seevaratnam + Appathurai Rasaratnam

8 Professor Karthigesu Kularatnam + Pushpadevi Kasipillai

8 Jayaluckshimi Karthigesu + Dr Thiruvalingam Kulanayagam

9 Dr Ragavan Kulanayagam

9 Rajendiram Kulanayagam

9 Dr Sarojini Kulanayagam + Dr Rasiah Sivaramalingam

10 Daralika Sivaramalingam

10 Dinoli Sivaramalingam

7 Thuraisamy Payson + Annamma Layton

8 Thambiyayah Payson + Kamalam Ponnusamy

7 Edwin Ratnasamy Payson +

8 Nesamani Retnam + Dato Reginald Paul Selvanesan Rajasooria DKB JP

9 Professor Lalita Rajasooria

9 Nesadevi Rajasooria

9 Rajan Rajasooria

7 Thangaluckshimi Payson + John Sellathurai

8 Edmund Thambiah + Daisy Mangalam Niles

9 Mohan Thambiah

9 Bimal Thambiah

9 Dharaka Thangaluckshimi Thambiah

5 Daughter-1 Sinnathamby + Vidana Velauthar Kanthar

5 Daughter-2 Sinnathamby + Kasipillai Velupillai

6 Daughter-1 + Karaliyar Sabapathy

7 Daughter-1 + Arumugam Shanmugam

6 Daughter-2 + Sinnathamby Kuddiar

4 Kasikanakkar Murugesar + Daughter Naranar

4 Kasikanakkar Subramaniam + Only Daughter of Visvanathar

4 Daughter-1 Kasikanakkar + Ambalavanar Velauthar

4 Daughter-2 Kasikanakkar + Kanagar Velauthar

4 Daughter-3 Kasikanakkar + Kathirthamby Arunasalam

4 Daughter-4 Kasikanakkar + Kuncha Myelar

4 Daughter-5 Kasikanakkar + Kathirthamby Ponnampalam

4 Daughter-6 Kasikanakkar + Kanthar Murugesu

4 Daughter-7 Kasikanakkar + Muthalithamby Snnathamby

2 Ulaganathar Muthalar

2 Ulaganathar Andaar

2 Ulaganathar Neelakanakkar

SHANMUGAM TAMBYAH Mudaliyar of Manipay - Family #5019

1 Mudaliyar Shanmugam Tambyah + sister of Mudaliyar Nannithamby of Manipay [5017]

...2 Tambyah Shanmukhan 1867-1932 + Kamalakshi Nannithamby [5017]

...2 Tambyah Murugasar 1868-1904 + Sivanandan Arunachalam [5006,5013,5017]

......3 Thambyah Murugaser 1923-1994 + Maheswary Ramanathan, b1927

.........4 Sarala Murugaser, b:1948 + Sega Nagendra

............5 Kshirabdhi Nagendra, b:1973, d:25 Mar 2013 + Jekhan Aruliah

...............6 Karnan Aruliah

...............6 Prashan Nagendra + Chemeli Jayasinghe, m:2011

.........4 Pratap Murugaser, b:1949 + Manju Sathasiwam

............ 5 Jehan Murugaser

.........4 Suresh Murugaser, b:1956 + Tarika Muthu Krishna (div)

............5 Divya Murugaser, b:1986

............5 Archana Murugaser, b:1988

4 Suresh Murugaser, b:1956 +Neelika Subashini KLannangara, m:Apr 5 2010

..2 Tambyah Muttukumaraswamy 1873-1927 + daughter of Ponnambalam Ramanathan, Sir, 1851-1930 + Sellachchi Ammal (second d/o Mudaliyar E Nannithamby) [5006,5013,5017]

Sunday Island Jan 9 2022

SIR PONNAMBALAM ARUNACHALAM (1853-1924)

On the 98th Death Anniversary which falls on January 9, 2022 Compiled by Sega Nagendra and Suresh Murugaser, great grandchildren of Sir P Arunachalam

FAMILY

Ponnambalam Arunachalam was the youngest Son of Gate Mudaliyar A. Ponnambalam.

He was born on September 14, 1853, to a highly respected and a well-educated professional family originally from Manipay, Jaffna.

Gate Mudaliyar Arumuganathapillai Coomaraswamy, his maternal grandfather, was the Tamil representative of the first Legislative Council established in 1834, following the recommendations of the Colebrooke-Cameron report of 1832. Colebrooke, coming from England, which was agitating for reform of the electoral system, was surprised at the autocratic powers exercised by the Governor of Ceylon since 1802. He effected a reduction of those powers by setting up an Executive and Legislative Council.

Sir Muttu Coomaraswamy, who was Arunachalam’s mother’s brother, had been a friend of Lord Houghton, Palmerston and Disraeli, in the London of the 1860’s. Sir Muttu was the first Ceylon Tamil (and probably, the first Asian) to receive a Knighthood, and the first non-Christian Asian to be called to the English Bar.

Sir Muttu’s only son, Dr. Ananda Coomaraswamy, world-famous art critic and author, who played a pivotal role in the cultural revival of India and Ceylon (including the proliferation of Buddhism in the latter), died in 1947 in Boston USA where he had worked in the Fine Arts Department for many years.

Both the elder brothers of Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam were educated at the Colombo Academy (now Royal College), and then at Presidency College, Madras.

His eldest brother Ponnambalam Coomaraswamy had a distinguished career as a Proctor and was the Nominated Tamil Member of the Ceylon Legislative Counsel from 1893.

The next eldest child of the family, his brother, Ponnambalam Ramanathan, an Advocate, succeeded their uncle, Sir Muttu Coomaraswamy as the Nominated Tamil Representative, serving from 1879-1893, and later on from 1921 to 1924. Ponnambalam Ramanathan was also elected to the Legislature as Member for the Northern Province (Northern Division) seat, and occupied it from 1924 till his death in 1930. In addition to this appointment, Ramanathan was the island’s Solicitor-General from 1893-1906 for a period of 13 years, acted as Attorney-General on several occasions, and retired as a pensionable officer in 1906.

EDUCATION

Like his older brothers, Ponnambalam Arunachalam had his early education at the Colombo Academy, but, having won the English University Scholarship in 1870, he entered Christ College, Cambridge. He took with him a reputation as a student of exceptional merit, recommended by Sir Walter Sendall, Director of Public Instruction. At Cambridge, he proceeded to annex the Foundation Scholarship.

While at Cambridge, Arunachalam distinguished himself in both Classics and Mathematics. In the records of Christ College he is referred to as a “brilliant mathematician and an able classics scholar”.

As a student, Ponnambalam Arunachalam was in a position to watch the changes made by Disraeli to the voting system in Britain, and stored his observations for future reference.

Arunachalam had qualified for the Bar in England and was looking forward to a legal career, but on his return to Ceylon in 1875 his uncle Sir Muttu Coomaraswamy persuaded him to sit for the Civil Service examination. He did so, and his talent and academic excellence ensured that he was the first Ceylonese to enter the prestigious Civil Service through open competition.

GOVERNMENT CAREER

Arunachalam was not appointed to the Government Agent’s office in Colombo and then to a series of judicial posts in various parts of the island. This was a policy unofficially adopted by the British Government of the day, which effectively debarred outstanding Ceylonese from taking high office in Government and instead appointed them to various parts of the Island in different capacities, such as District Judges, Police Magistrates, and Commissioners of Requests.

When he was District Judge of Batticaloa and in the Fourth Class of the Civil Service, Sir Arthur Gordon appointed Arunachalam over the heads of about thirty seniors, among whom was Mr. (later Sir) Alexander Ashmore, to act in the office of the Registrar-General and Fiscal of the Western Province. A protest memorandum was lodged with the Secretary of State. But Sir Arthur Gordon, who obviously recognized merit when he found it, had his way and Arunachalam took office as Registrar-General.

Arunachalam now set himself to reform the Fiscal’s office which had become a den of corruption and inefficiency He reorganised the departments of Land Registration and Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages, for which he was warmly congratulated by the Governor. The Times of Ceylon, reporting at the time Arunachalam entered the departments, on the Administration Reports on Land Registration and Vital Statistics, observed that they were places where chaos and corruption held merry sway. Fraud was rife. Dishonest deals often took precedence over genuine dealings, and everybody’s property and title were endangered.

The measure of the man may be seen in the way he set about reforming the Registrar-General’s Department. Sitting by the side of the various clerks as they performed their tasks, he patiently learned their work before launching the reforms by which he stopped the unconscionable delays and dishonesty prevailing in the registration of deeds, and ended the practice by which official work was being conducted as a form of private practice with fees levied privately for its discharge.

He started a real Record Room, supplied it with a system and an index, and founded a Benevolent Society which saved many a clerk from the grasp of money-lenders as well as from social disgrace and penury, paid many widows and orphans, and made clerical lives lighter and brighter. These activities were noticed by a distinguished American statistician, who informed the Governor of Ceylon that “there is not published in the entire United States a report equally valuable and comprehensive”.

Governor Sir West Ridgeway entrusted the organisation of the 1901 Census of Ceylon to Arunachalam. The report elicited the thanks of both the Governor and Secretary of State. But it was Armand de Souza, Editor of the Ceylon Morning Leader, an influential paper of the day, who wrote:

“The curious reader…. will find the Report which introduces the Census of 1901 perhaps the most luminous dissertation on the ethnological, social and economic conditions of the Island. In Sir P. Arunachalam’s Account of the history and religions of the Island in his Census Report would be found the language of Addison, the eloquence of Macaulay and the historical insight of Mommsen”.

In 1906 Arunachalam was appointed to the Legislative Council. In 1912 Governor Sir Henry McCallum nominated him to the Executive Council, as a personal appointment; and on his retirement from the Public Service in 1913, he was knighted in recognition of his distinguished service to the country.

POST-RETIREMENT

In 1913, a new phase in Arunachalam’s life began. In this year he joined a political movement demanding self-governance for the people of Ceylon. In an historic lecture entitled ‘’Our Political Needs”, given at the insistence of D.R.Wijewardene, Arunachalam crystallised the arguments for self-government.

In 1915 he was elected the first President of the Ceylon Social Service League for the upliftment of the poorer classes in Ceylon.

In 1917 he founded the Ceylon Reform League, and

In 1919 he delivered an address to a Sinhalese conference under the patronage of F.R.Senanayake, for the purpose of organising Peoples’ Associations throughout the Sinhalese districts of the Island for political, social and economic improvement. This movement directly gave birth to the Lanka Maha Jana Sabha.

HIS VISION

Arunachalam’s unstinted commitment to his dream of “Unity is Strength” illustrates the strong unity that existed at that time amongst the people of Ceylon, when Sinhalese, Tamils, Moors, Burghers were united in their approach to social reform. Unfortunately, the country now marches to a different drum resulting in mass exodus of many talented individuals and their progeny!

NATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

On December 11, 1919, the Ceylon National Congress was inaugurated, with the unanimous election of Arunachalam as its first President. It was he who advised various political organizations such as the Ceylon National Association, the Ceylon Reform League, the Chilaw Association, and the Jaffna Youth Association to unite into one body and lodge a joint appeal for political reform.

The Jaffna league joined the Ceylon National Congress on a condition: namely, that in a reformed Legislative Council there would be a special seat for the Tamils of the Western Province.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

The reformed Legislative Council of 1921 did not have a seat for a Tamil.

The Low Country Association, with 11 voters elected Sir Henry De Mel in 1921, whilst the Town of Colombo with an electorate of 4,325, elected his Brother-in-Law, Sir James Peiris, unopposed. The vast number of people felt this to be the cause of Sir Ponnambalam’s untimely resignation from being the first President of the newly formed Ceylon National Congress (CNC), to form which he had exerted so much effort, persuasion and energy for quite some time. They all expected Sir Ponnambalam to be elected as the member for Colombo Town and Sir James Peiris who was a prominent member of the Low Country Products Association, to be elected by that body.

FATHER OF UNIVERSTY EDUCATION AND “SWABASHA”

Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam’s contribution to the field of education was that of a pioneer. In his notes to the Director of Public Instruction, he stated that the fundamental defect in the system of elementary education in Ceylon was that English was employed as the medium of instruction.

In a real sense, as has been pointed out, he was the father of the concept of ‘Swabasha’. Unfortunately, this idea was worked upon by later politicians who mis-read it, totally rejecting English, which could have been the link language unifying the different ethnic groups of Ceylon. Since at that time the people of Ceylon were still functioning as a united family, the need for a link language did not assert itself. The paths of History are littered with missed opportunities, and sadly, this was one of them.

Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam has been rightly called the Father of the Ceylon University Movement as he was responsible for the Ceylon University Association which was formed in January 1906. In his memorandum to the Governor, Sir West Ridgeway, requesting the Government to appoint a Commission to report on educational progress and needs, Arunachalam appealed to the Government to create a “Ceylon University”; or at least to raise Royal College to the status of a University College, which would be of lasting benefit to the people and a fitting monument to His Excellency’s rule in Ceylon. He suggested that Ceylon and Indian History and Geography could replace English History and Geography on the curriculum of such an institution. “His Excellency on 15 October decided to take no action” was the negative response he received from the Governor’s Secretary.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN A NUTSHELL

Looking back on Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam’s career, we contemplate a life studded with immense contributions in a range of different fields of endeavour. Those contributions by which he will always be remembered include

His membership and Presidency of the Royal Asiatic Society

His role as Founder President of the Ceylon Saiva Paripalana Sabhai (a religious organisation which encourages the practice of Hinduism)

The re-organisation of the Registrar-General’s Department (a Herculean task, magnificently performed)

The formation of the Ceylon National Congress, whose real potential for national unity was destroyed by the petty self-interest of some influential sections of the Sinhalese

His original and outstanding contribution to the establishment of the Ceylon University College.

The steadfast belief in the unity of his country’s various communities in a single sovereign state, which he carried with him throughout his life.

THE FINALE

By then, Sir Ponnambalam was an exhausted and tired genius, perhaps disillusioned, yet one who understood human nature and became more forgiving and gracious. Towards the end of 1923, he undertook a pilgrimage to visit the Sacred Shrines in India. In the midst of his devotions at Madurai in South India, he passed away on January 9, 1924, leaving behind him memories of a noble life well spent in the service of his Country and his people.

THE TRIBUTES

The day after his death, the “Ceylon Daily News” described him in an Editorial as ‘’the most powerful personality in Ceylon’’ and the “Times of London” described him as ‘’Founder of modern Ceylon’’.

When Professor Marrs, the first Principal of the University College, heard of Arunachalam’s death at Madurai on January 9, 1924, while on a pilgrimage worshipping at the Hindu temples in South India, he summoned the students of the University College to the main hall and addressed them in these words:

“Gentlemen, I have asked you to assemble here at this hour as a mark of respect to the memory of one who was in a very real sense the Father of the University project in Ceylon. Little or nothing has been said of that side of his activities which to those who were in close touch with him was the inspiration of his latter days – the side which concerns you and me as members of an institution so dear to his heart, the Ceylon University College Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam presided over the Public Meeting which was called to consider the question of the establishment of a University in Ceylon on January 19, 1906. From that day to the day of his decease Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam has pursued his object to use his own words, “without let or restraint”, undeterred by the doubts of men without vision or the delay to which an untried project must, I suppose, always be subjected by conservers of tradition”.

Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam has been honoured by the erection of his statue in Parliament Square in 1930, and by the unveiling of his portraits at Royal College and at the Offices of both the Ceylon National Congress and the Ceylon Social Service League. His name graces Arunachalam Hall, the first Hall of Residence to be opened to students at the University of Peradeniya in 1951, and a commemorative one-rupee postage stamp was issued in his memory on March 10, 1977. His philosophical and religious contributions were collected and published in 1937, with the title “Studies and Translations”.

In his ‘’Message to the Country’’ published by his good friend D.R. Wijewardene (who had returned from Cambridge with a degree in Law and as a Barrister, and persuaded Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam to resume his political activities) in the very first issue of the ‘’Ceylon Daily News’’ of January 3, 1918, he declared :

‘’ In our zeal for political reform we must be on our guard against making it an end. We seek it not to win rights but to fulfil duties to ourselves and our Country. People have a distinct task to perform. Our youth will seek their own well-being. They will work in unity so that all the intellectual forces defused among men may obtain the highest development in thought and action. With our youth inspired by such ideas, I would like to see our Country rise with renewed splendour to be a beacon light to all lands. ‘’

The next substantial reference to him was by the late, great Mr. D.R. Wijewardene himself, who was his great friend and admirer. On the occasion of Ceylon’s independence, he rose from his sick bed, whilst in retirement in 1948, and in ‘’Ceylon Daily News’’ reflecting on events over 32 years earlier, he wrote: – ‘’ In those days, the national consciousness was dormant and there was nothing in the spirit of the times to stir it to life and activity. Later, largely as a result of Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam’s work, the fire of the national soul was quickened. When he delivered his epoch-making address on April 2, 1917 on ‘’Our Political Needs’’ at the Masonic Hall, that leader of imperishable memory set in motion influences that were to change the history of this Country. It was both a starting point and a blue-print for the important Constitutional changes that followed.

The immediate outcome of that meeting was the formation of the Ceylon National Congress. It was then that the national movement which has brought Ceylon to the threshold of Independence received its stimulus. Public opinion began to speak for the first time with a firm tone’’.

Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam stands out as an outstanding leader of honesty, integrity and achievement, and is a beacon to us all.

Most of us would have been satisfied by association with one or other of such monumental endeavours. But Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam seems to have been a human dynamo – a true nationalist and patriot of Ceylon.

A short time after Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam’s death, grateful people honoured his memory by erecting his statute in the grounds of Parliament House. It was unveiled by the Governor, Sir Herbert Stanley on April 3, 1930. It was the first statute to adorn these premises, and stood in solitary splendour till the statute of his brother Ramanathan was erected in 1953. The inscription of the statute reads as follows:

SIR PONNAMBALAM ARUNACHALAM

1853 -1924

Scholar, Statesman, Administrator, Patriot

Erected by a Grateful People in

Testimony of a life nobly spent

In the service of his country and

Signal services as the champion of

A reformed legislature and of

His matchless devotion and

Steadfastness in the cause

Of the Ceylon University