Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu
Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu (also known as P. Sara) was a Ceylonese civil servant. He was the former Controller of Tea and Rubber and first President of the Board of Control for Cricket in Ceylon.[1]
Education
He was educated at S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia where won the Victoria Gold Medal play at the Royal–Thomian. He went on to Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge to study Mathematical Tripos, but returned to Ceylon before taking his finals.
Career
After his return he taught at Royal College Colombo before joining the prestigious Ceylon Civil Service. After initial appointment to the Colombo Kachcheri, he served as Assistant Government Agent in Mullaitivu, Hambantota and went on to serve as a judicial officer in Badulla, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Kalutara. Later he took up appointment at Controller of Tea and Rubber and served until his retirement in 1946. For his service he was offered a CMG by the Secretary of State for the Colonies in the new year's honours list of 1946, which declined. He contest the Colombo South electorate in the 1947 general election and in a by election 1948 as an independent candidate, losing on first to R.A. de Mel and second to Major T.F. Jayewardene.
Cricket
A life long member of the Tamll Union Club and served as its president as well as President of the Ceylon Cricket Association (1937-1950) and was elected as the first President of the Board of Control for Cricket in Ceylon (1949-1950). Sri Lanka Cricket offers the P. Saravanamuttu in his memory for the winners of the Division I cricket tournament and in 1977, the Colombo Oval the home ground of the Tamll Union Club was renamed in his honour as Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium.
Family
He was the son of Dr Saravanamuttu who's father was from Jaffna. He had six brothers and two sisters. His brothers include Sir Ratnasothy Saravanamuttu, Manicasothy Saravanamuttu, Lt. Col. S. Saravanamuttu.