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K. P. Ratnam

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Honourable
K. P. Ratnam
MP
Member of the Ceylonese Parliament
for Kilinochchi
In office
1965–1970
Preceded byA. Sivasunderam, ITAK
Succeeded byV. Anandasangaree, ACTC
Member of the Ceylonese Parliament
for Kayts
In office
1970–1983
Preceded byV. Navaratnam, Ind
Personal details
Born(1914-03-10)10 March 1914
Velanai, British Ceylon
Died20 December 2010(2010-12-20) (aged 96)
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Political partyIllankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi
Other political
affiliations		Tamil United Liberation Front
Alma materUniversity of London
University of Madras
ProfessionAcademic
EthnicitySri Lankan Tamil

Kaarthigesar Ponnambalam Ratnam (10 March 1914-20 December 2010) was a Sri Lankan Tamil politician and Member of Parliament. Originally a teacher and academic, he entered Parliament in 1965, forfeiting his seat in 1983 over his support for an independent Tamil state.

Early life

Ratnam was born on 10 March 1914 in Velanai on the island of Kayts in northern British Ceylon. He excelled in Tamil language and Tamil literature at school. He became a pundit in 1933 and vidvan in 1942. He joined the academic profession, becoming an assistant master at Kopay Teacher Training College in 1941. In 1943 he was appointed Inspector of Schools. Between 1945 and 1956 he was a lecturer in Tamil at Maharagama Training College. Later he spent eight years as a research officer in the Official Languages Department in Colombo. He then served as lecturer in Indian Studies at the University of Malaya.

Ratnam was awarded BA (Hons) degree from the University of London in 1945. He later received a Bachelor of Oriental Languages and MA (1952) from the University of Madras.

Ratnam married Sinthamany, daughter of P. Vaitilingam. They had a son - S. Nimalan.

Political career

After retirement Ratnam entered politics, joining the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (Federal Party). He was ITAK's candidate for Kilinochchi at the March 1965 parliamentary election. He won the election and entered Parliament. He was ITAK's candidate for Kayts at the May 1970 parliamentary election which he won. In 1972 the ITAK, All Ceylon Tamil Congress and others formed the Tamil United Front (later renamed Tamil United Liberation Front). Ratnam was the TULF's candidate in Kayts at the 1977 parliamentary election which he won. Ratnam 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, Ratnam forfeited his seat in Parliament on 22 October 1983.

Later life

Ratnamn moved to India in 1985 . He returned to Sri Lanka in 2003 and lived with his children in Wellawatte, Colombo. He was president of Colombo Tamil Sangam and Ulaka Tamil Marai Kallakam. He was also a vice-president of the Tamil United Liberation Front.

Ratnam died on 20 December 2010 at his home.

References

  1. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1965" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
  2. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1970" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
  3. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1977" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
  4. Wickramasinghe, Wimal (18 January 2008). "Saga of crossovers, expulsions and resignations etc. Referendum for extention of Parliament". The Island, Sri Lanka.
  5. "Obituaries". Daily News, Sri Lanka. 21 December 2010.
← Members of the 6th Parliament of Ceylon (1965 (1965)–1970) →
Central Province (23)
Eastern Province (11)
Northern Province (13)
North Central Province (8)
North Western Province (16)
Sabaragamuwa Province (17)
Southern Province (19)
Uva Province (10)
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Appointed (6)
← Members of the 7th Parliament of Sri Lanka (1970 (1970)–1977) →
Central Province (23)
Eastern Province (11)
Northern Province (13)
North Central Province (8)
North Western Province (16)
Sabaragamuwa Province (16)
Southern Province (19)
Uva Province (10)
Western Province (35)
Appointed (6)

*Appointed MPs were abolished in 1972 by the First Republican Constitution

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