K. Thurairatnam

Honourable
 K. Thurairatnam
MP
Member of the Ceylonese Parliament
for Point Pedro
In office
1960–1983
Preceded by P. Kandiah, Communist Party
Personal details
Born August 10, 1930(1930-08-10)
Died September 23, 1995(1995-09-23) (aged 65)
Nationality Sri Lankan
Political party Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi
Other political
affiliations		 Tamil United Liberation Front
Alma mater Jaffna College
University of Ceylon
Ceylon Law College
Profession Teacher, lawyer
Religion Hindu
Ethnicity Sri Lankan Tamil

Kathiripillai Thurairatnam was a Sri Lankan Tamil politician and Member of Parliament.

Early life

Thurairatnam was born on 10 August 1930. He was educated at Jaffna College, Vaddukoddai. He joined the clerical service at the age of 17 but left soon after to enter the University of Ceylon. After graduation he joined the teaching profession. He taught at the Puloly Hindu English School until 1960. Later on he studied at Ceylon Law College and qualified as a lawyer.

Political career

Thurairatnam joined the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (Federal Party) soon after it was formed. He was ITAK's candidate for Point Pedro at the 1956 parliamentary election but failed to get elected.[1] He however won the March 1960 parliamentary election and entered Parliament.[2] He was re-elected at the July 1960, March 1965 and May 1970 parliamentary elections.[3][4][5]

In 1972 the ITAK, All Ceylon Tamil Congress and others formed the Tamil United Front (later renamed Tamil United Liberation Front). Thurairatnam was the TULF's candidate in Point Pedro at the 1977 parliamentary election which he won.[6] Thurairatnam and all other TULF MPs boycotted Parliament from the middle of 1983 for a number of reasons: they were under pressure from Sri Lankan Tamil militants not to stay in Parliament beyond their normal six-year term; the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka required them to swear an oath unconditionally renouncing support for a separate state; and the Black July riots in which up to 3,000 Tamils were murdered by Sinhalese mobs. After three months of absence, Thurairatnam forfeited his seat in Parliament on 5 January 1984.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1956". Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/Results_1956%20GENERAL%20ELECTION.PDF. 
  2. ^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1960-03-19". Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/Results_1960_03_19%20GENERAL%20ELECTION.PDF. 
  3. ^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1960-07-20". Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/Results_1960_07_20%20GENERAL%20ELECTION.PDF. 
  4. ^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1965". Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/Results_1965%20GENERAL%20ELECTION.PDF. 
  5. ^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1970". Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/Results_1970%20GENERAL%20ELECTION.PDF. 
  6. ^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1977". Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/General%20Election%201977.PDF. 
  7. ^ Wickramasinghe, Wimal (18 January 2008). "Saga of crossovers, expulsions and resignations etc. Referendum for extention of Parliament". The Island, Sri Lanka. http://www.island.lk/2008/01/18/features11.html.