List of Tamils of Sri Lanka

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This is a List of Tamils of Sri Lanka by their country of domicile or origin. All communities that speak Tamil or spoke Tamil and originally came from Sri Lanka are included. Tamils of Sri Lanka today are a trans-national minority and are found across the globe

Contents 1 Sri Lanka 1.1 Historical figures 1.2 Religious figures 1.3 Literary figures 1.4 Civil servants 1.5 Activists 1.6 Sports people 1.7 Journalists 1.8 Singers/Actors 1.9 Academics 1.10 Politicians 1.11 Civil conflict figures 2 Canada 2.1 Academics 2.2 Sports people 2.3 Literary figures 2.4 Activists 2.5 Politicians 2.6 Journalists 3 Singapore 3.1 Politicians 3.2 Literary figures 3.3 Academics 3.4 Business people 4 Malaysia 4.1 Business people 4.2 Politicians 4.3 Government servants 4.4 Sports figures 4.5 Educationists 4.6 Authors 4.7 Singers 5 USA 5.1 Academics 5.2 Business people 6 UK 6.1 Journalists 6.2 Academics 6.3 Sports people 6.4 Singers 6.5 Activist 7 Germany 8 India 8.1 Films 8.2 Others 9 Australia 9.1 Singers 9.2 Activists 10 See also

[edit] Sri Lanka

[edit] Historical figures

• Eelattu Poothanthevanar – B.C.E Sangam Era Poet
• King Ellala Cholan - B.C.E Tamil King in Sri Lanka of Indian origin
• King Sangili VI 1519-1560 - a prominent king of The Jaffna Kingdom
• Chief Pandara Vannian - Leading rebel Vanni chieftain who was defetaed by the British colonials in 1811.
• Chief Arumaipperumal - Leading rebel Batticaloa chieftain who was captured by the British colonials in 1803.

[edit] Religious figures

• Arumuka Navalar - Hindu reformer and author of books.
• Yoga Swamy - Hindu ascetic from Jaffna.
• Vipulananda - Hindu reformer and author of books.
• Bawa Muhaiyaddeen - a popular Sufi.

[edit] Literary figures

• C.W. Thamotharampillai - Editor/publisher of classical Tamil poetry and grammar. The oldest extant written work in Tamil, Tolkapiyam - Porulathikaram, was discovered and published by him with a commentary.
• Dr. Ananda Coomaraswamy Orientialist and author
• V. Akilesapillai - Author and Hindu activist
• A.J.Canagaratna - Critic and Humanist. One time Editor of the Saturday Review. Passed away in Oct 06.
• Dominic Jeeva - Author and social activist
• Sillaiyoor Selvarajan - Poet, broadcaster and TV personality

[edit] Civil servants

• Brigadier A. Mutukumaru - First native Commander of the Army and Chief-of-Staff
• Rear Admiral Ranjan Kadirgamar - First native Commander of the Navy
• K.C.Kamalasabayson - Attorney-General of Sri Lanka
• T.E.Anandarajah - Inspector General of Police of Sri Lanka
• C. Loganathan - Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Ceylon

[edit] Activists

• Radhika Coommaraswamy – Human Rights activist and United Nations representative for violence against women and children
• Rajini Thiranagama - Murdered Human Rights activist and author of books
• Chelvy Thiyagarajah Kidnapped, tortured and murdered Feminist by LTTE- Poet and the recipient of international PEN award
• Richard de Zoysa Murdered Human Rights activist, journalist and actor
• Fr. Mary Bastian Murdered Human Rights activist
• Rev. Chandra Fernando Murdered Human rights activist and Batticaloa citizens committee member.
• Dr.Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Director of Center for Policy Alternatives, Colombo, Sri Lanka
• Dr.Rajan Hoole Professor and Human Rights activist of the University Teachers' for Human Rights UTHR(J) and author of books.
• Ketheesh Loganathan, Assassinated Deputy Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat of the government of Sri Lanka.
• Paris Sabalingam Publisher and Activist[1]
• Fr. Thiruchelvam Nihal Jim Brown - Activist parish priest abducted by Sri Lankan military near Allaipiddy village, presumed dead.

[edit] Sports people

• Russel Arnold - Cricketer of the Sri Lankan team
• Umesh Walloopillai - Tennis Davis Cup player
• Sanjeev Paramanathan- Tennis Davis Cup Player
• V.S. Kumar Anandan - Guinness World Record holder in swimming
• Muttiah Muralitharan- World-class spin bowler Sri Lankan Test Cricket player
• Dr.N.Ethirveerasingam - High Jump - In Olymbic Games - 1950's

[edit] Journalists

• Claude Selveratnam - Radio Ceylon Journalist
• S.P.Mylvaganam - Radio Ceylon first Tamil journalist
• Mylvaganam Nimalarajan - Murdered journalist, BBC reporter
• Taraki Sivaram - Murdered journalist and editor of Tamilnet news website, author of books.
• Aiyathurai Nadesan - Murdered journalist of Virakesari newspaper
• Subramaniam Sivanayagam - Prominent journalist, editor, editor of Saturday Review from Jaffna and an author of books.
• K.S.Raja - Popular Radio Ceylon announcer

[edit] Singers/Actors

• A.E.Manoharan Popular Tamil Baila singer/composer
• Rukmani Devi Popular Sinhalese film actress of Tamil origin
• Kumar Navaratnam Pop singer

[edit] Academics

• Prof. Father Xavier Thaninayagam - Tamil scholar, Author and historian.
• Prof. K.Kailasapathi First Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jaffna.
• Prof. Indrapala Historian from University of Jaffna now living in Australia
• Prof. S.K Sitrampalam Prominent historian from University of Jaffna and author of books.
• Prof. Karthigesu Sivathamby Prominent Tamil scholar, sociologist and author of books.
• Prof. S. Pathmanathan Prominent Historian best known for his expertise on the Kingdom of Jaffna.
• Dr. Ratnajeevan Hoole- Senior Professor and Vice Chancellor, University of Jaffna on special leave.

[edit] Politicians

• Appapillai Amirthalingam Leader of the moderate TULF party murdered by the LTTE. One time Leader of the Opposition.
• Sir. Ponnabalam Arunachalam – Pre-independence politician and Attorney General. Deceased.
• S.M. Rasamanickam – President of the Federal Party in 1961, pre- and post-independence Era. Deceased.
• S.J.V. Chelvanayagam – Much venerated Tamil Politician of the pre- and post-independence era. Founder of the Federal Party. Deceased.
• Sir Muthu Coomaraswamy – First Asian to be knighted. Deceased.
• Douglas Devananda - Government Minister and Member of Parliament of the anti- LTTE, EPDP party.
• Alfred Duraiappah - Assassinated SLFP Politician and Mayor of Jaffna
• Lakshman Kadirgamar – Assassinated PA MP and Foreign Minister
• Senator Nadesan - Pre-independence politician. Deceased.
• Joseph Pararajasingham - Murdered Tamil National Alliance MP.
• G.G. Ponnambalam – Politician, pre- and post- independence. Minister. Deceased.
• Kumar Ponnambalam aka G.G. Ponnambalam, Jr., - Murdered Pro-Tamil nationalist politician.
• Sir Ponambalam Ramanathan – Pre-independence politician. Deceased.
• R. Sampanthan - Current leader of TNA political party.
• N. Shanmugathasan - Veteran Communist Party Leader
• Sinnathamby Sivamaharajah - Assassinated pro-Tamil nationalist politician and media baron
• Periya Sundram - Founder member of CWC or Indian Tamils workers congress in Sri Lanka
• Bala Tampoe - Veteran Trade Unionist
• S. Thondaman - Veteran CWC trade unionist and Minister. Deceased.
• Nadarajah Raviraj - Assassinated TNA member of parliament.
• Neelan Tiruchelvam – Tamil Member of Parliament TULF murdered by an LTTE-suicide bomber, Human Rights activist and founder of The International Centre for Ethnic Studies and Minority Rights organisation.
• Sarojini Yogeswaran - TULF Mayoress of Jaffna assassinated by the LTTE.
• V Yogeswaran Co-leader of the moderate TULF party, and MP, murdered by the LTTE.

[edit] Civil conflict figures

• Shankar Rajee Founder member and leader of EROS group (Deceased)
• Arul Pragasam - Pioneering Tamil militant leader of EROS group
• Velupillai Prabhakaran – Current Leader of LTTE group
• Anton Balasingham - London, UK based advisor and a peace negotiator on behalf of the LTTE.
• Colonel Kittu Late Sadasivam Krishnakumar was the commander of Jaffna forces of the LTTE.
• Sri Sabaratnam Assassinated leader of TELO group
• Kuttimani Murdered in the a prison massacre, the co-founder of TELO group
• Thangadurai Murdered in a prison massacre, , the co-founder of TELO group
• K.Padmanabha Assassinated leader of EPRLF group
• Uma Maheswaran Assassinated leader of PLOTE group
• V. Balakumar Former leader of EROS and currently with the LTTE
• Thenmuli Rajaratnam – LTTE assassin who killed Rajiv Gandhi
• Colonel Karuna - Government aligned anti-LTTE TMVP group. Once part of the LTTE.

[edit] Canada

[edit] Academics

• Indira Samarasekera nee Rutnam - President of University of Alberta
• Elagu V. Elaguppillai - Academic, Researcher, Entrepreneur and politician
• Chelva Kanaganayakam[2], Director, Centre for South Asian Studies, Professor, Department of English, University of Toronto.
• Joseph Chandrakanthan[3], Associate Professor, Centre for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto.
• Alfred Jeyaratnam Wilson[4]– Peace maker and politician and author of books on Sri Lanka. Deceased.

[edit] Sports people

• Sonya Jayaseelan[5] - Canadian tennis player
• Sanjayan Thuraisingam- Canadian cricketer
• Suresh Joachim - Guinness World Record holder

[edit] Literary figures

• Michael Ondaatje - Canadian author
• Shyam Selvadurai - Canadian author of Funny Boy and Cinnamon Gardens
• A. Sivanandan[6] - Canadian author of When Memory Dies, and editor of the journal Race and Class
• Rohan Fernando - Canadian flim maker

[edit] Activists

• Gary Anandasangaree[7] Son of Anandasangaree, President TULF and former MP in the Sri Lankan Parliament and Canadian Tamil Congress founder and Liberal Party of Canada organizer.

[edit] Politicians

• Vincent Veerasundaram - Conservative Party of Canada nominee for federal elections in 2006.
• David Thomas - New Democratic Party nominee for 2006 federal elections

[edit] Journalists

• David Jeyaraj Canadian freelance journalist

[edit] Singapore

[edit] Politicians

• Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam – Perennial opposition politician of the Worker's Party
• Sinnathamby Rajaratnam – Politician and deputy prime minister as well as one of the founding fathers of Singapore
• Tharman Shanmugaratnam - Politician and minister

[edit] Literary figures

• Edwin Thumboo – Poet

[edit] Academics

• Prof Philip Jeyaretnam – Professor
• Prof Sittampalam Shanmugaratnam - Professor and reseacher

[edit] Business people

• Clarence Chandran – Former Chief Executive of Nortel

[edit] Malaysia

[edit] Business people

• Ananda Krishnan – Malaysia's richest man and usually makes Forbes 100 richest people list
• Bastianpillai Paul Nicholas - the first non-British businessman who endeavoured to become one of the top bankers in the then Malaya.

[edit] Politicians

• E. E. C. Thuraisingham, a politician of pre-Independence Malaysia
• D.R. Seenivasagam, founder of People's Progressive Party (Malaysia)
• Sivarasa Rasiah, a human rights lawyer and vice-president of the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People's Justice Party)

[edit] Government servants

• Dr S.S. Thiruchelvam - first Asian surgeon in the world.
• Tan Sri Dr Ramon Navaratnam, prominent Malaysian economist

[edit] Sports figures

• Punch Gunalan, former national badminton player and IBF Executive Deputy President.

[edit] Educationists

• R. Thampipillay, educationist

[edit] Authors

• Rani Manicka, writer

[edit] Singers

• Guy Sebastian, winner of Australian Idol 2003

[edit] USA

[edit] Academics

• Dr.Annalingam Anadarajah Professor of Civil Engineering, Johns Hopkins University.
• Prof. Valentine Daniel Professor of Anthropology at Columbia Universityand author of several books.
• Prof. Neil DeVotta Professor of Political Science at Hartwick College and author of several books on Sri Lanka.
• Professor Murugesu Sivapalan- Professor at University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign and winner of the John Dalton Medal by the European Geophysical Society for Distinguished Research in Hydrology
• Dr. Vasuki Nesiah - Legal and Feminist Scholar and Editor of Lines magazine
• Prof. Stanley Jeyaraja Tambiah Retired Harvard University professor of Anthropology and author of several books.

[edit] Business people

• Sanjay Kumar – Former Chief Executive of Computer Associates

[edit] UK

[edit] Journalists

• Darshini David BBC reporter and journalist
• George Alagiah BBC reporter and journalist
• James Coomarasamy BBC reporter and journalist

[edit] Academics

• Dr. S. Sabanathan (late) Prominent Thoracic surgeon at Bradford Royal Infimary.

[edit] Sports people

• Murugan Thiruchelvam - British child prodigy chess player

[edit] Singers

• Mathangi Arulpragasam - British rapper M.I.A.

[edit] Activist

• Nirmala Rajasingam

[edit] Germany

• Rajkumar Kanagasingam an author

[edit] India

[edit] Films

• Balu Mahendra – prominent Kollywood film director
• Raadhika prominent Kollywood actress

[edit] Others

• Yasmin Tambiah[8] - Director at the Centre for Feminist Legal Research, New Delhi, & author

[edit] Australia

[edit] Singers

• Kandiah Kamalesvaran Prominent singer known as Kamahl
• Guy Sebastian, winner of Australian Idol 2003

[edit] Activists

• Christie Jayaratnam Eliezer - Professor of Mathematics in University of Ceylon, University of Malaya and Latrobe University in Australia. Recipient of Order of Australia

[edit] See also

• Tamil diaspora
• Sri Lankan Tamils
• Ceylonese diaspora
• Hill Country Tamils
• Tamils assassinated by the LTTE