This is a list of

Tamils The Tamil people, also known as Tamilar ( ta, தமிழர், Tamiḻar, translit-std=ISO, in the singular or ta, தமிழர்கள், Tamiḻarkaḷ, translit-std=ISO, label=none, in the plural), or simply Tamils (), are a Drav ...

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

by their country of domicile or origin. All communities that speak (or spoke)

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia ** Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nati ...

and originally came from Sri Lanka are included.

Tamils of Sri Lanka Sri Lankan Tamils ( or ), also known as Ceylon Tamils or Eelam Tamils, are Tamils native to the South Asian island state of Sri Lanka. Today, they constitute a majority in the Northern Province, live in significant numbers in the Eastern Pr ...

today are a trans-national minority and are found across the globe.

Sri Lanka

Academics

Srikanthalakshmi Arulanandam Srikanthalakshmi Arulanandam, in Tamil: சிறீகாந்தலட்சுமி அருளானந்தம் (1961 – December 25, 2019) was a Sri Lankan librarian and writer, who was an advocate for feminism, media literacy and Ee ...

- Principle Librarian at the University of Jaffna *

A. Thurairajah Alagiah Thurairajah ( ta, அழகையா துரைராசா ''Aḻakaiyā Turairācā''; 10 November 1934 – 11 June 1994) was a leading Sri Lankan Tamil academic and vice-chancellor of the University of Jaffna. Early life and famil ...

- Professor, Vice Chancellor of

University of Peradeniya The University of Peradeniya ( si, පේරාදෙණිය විශ්වවිද්‍යාලය, ta, பேராதனைப் பல்கலைக்கழகம்) is a Public research university, public university in Sri Lanka ...

, Civil Engineer (Akbar Bridge in University of Peradeniya was constructed by him), Founder of

Thurai Law "The Other Gods" is a fantasy short story written by American author H. P. Lovecraft, on August 14, 1921. It was first published in the November 1933 issue of ''The Fantasy Fan''. Plot Barzai the Wise, a high priest and prophet greatly learned ...

( About Soil) *

Rajan Hoole Michael Richard Ratnarajan Hoole (commonly known as Rajan Hoole) is a Sri Lankan Tamil mathematician, academic and human rights activist. He was one of the founders of University Teachers for Human Rights (UTHR) which documented human rights abus ...

- professor, Department of Mathematics,

University of Jaffna The University of Jaffna ( ta, யாழ்ப்பாணப் பல்கலைக்கழகம், translit=Yāḻppāṇap Palkalaikkaḻakam; si, යාපනය විශ්වවිද්‍යාලය, ''Yāpanaya Viśvavidyālaya''; ...

; human rights activist and author of books; member of

University Teachers for Human Rights *''For the figure in Norse mythology, see Urðr'' The University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna) or UTHR(J) was formed in 1988 at the University of Jaffna, Jaffna, in Sri Lanka, as part of the national organization University Teachers for Human ...

Ratnajeevan Hoole Professor Samuel Ratnajeevan Herbert Hoole (born 15 September 1952; commonly known as Ratnajeevan Hoole) is a Sri Lankan Tamil engineer and academic. He is a member of the election commission of Sri Lanka. Early life and family Hoole was born on ...

- Professor of Electrical Engineering; appointed Vice Chancellor of the

but never took up post due to threats *

T. Nadaraja Professor Thambiah Nadaraja was a Sri Lankan academic, lawyer and author. He was dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ceylon and chancellor of the University of Jaffna. Early life and family Nadaraja was born on 27 December 1927. He ...

- Chancellor of the

; Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Law,

University of Ceylon The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka (earlier Ceylon) from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the Univer ...

* S. Raveendranath - Vice-Chancellor of the

Eastern University of Sri Lanka The Eastern University Sri Lanka (abbreviated as EUSL) is a public university in Vantharumoolai, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. It was established on 1 October 1986. The university was preceded by the Batticaloa University College established on ...

K. Sivathamby Professor Karthigesu Sivathamby ( ta, கார்த்திகேசு சிவத்தம்பி; 10 May 1932 – 6 July 2011) was a Sri Lankan Tamil literary historian, author and academic. Early life and family Sivathamby was bor ...

- emeritus professor of

; prominent Tamil scholar, sociologist and author of books * X. Thaninayagam - scholar, author and historian *

Valentine Joseph Valentine Joseph (27 January 1929 – 15 March 2017) was a Sri Lankan Tamil mathematician, noted for his contributions to education. Early life and education Joseph was born in Penang, Malaya to Sri Lankan Tamil parents. His extended family ...

- was a Sri Lankan Tamil mathematician, noted for his contributions to education *

Rajini Thiranagama Dr. Rajani Thiranagama (née Rajasingham) (23 February 1954 – 21 September 1989) was a Tamil human rights activist and feminist who was assassinated by Tamil Tigers cadres after she had criticised them for their atrocities. At the time of her ...

- murdered human rights activist and author of books; head of the Department of Anatomy,

; member of

assassinated by Tamil Tigers. *

T. Varagunam T. Varagunam, FRCP was a Sri Lankan academic, physician. He was the Chancellor of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka The Eastern University Sri Lanka (abbreviated as EUSL) is a public university in Vantharumoolai, Eastern Province, Sri ...

- Chancellor of the

Activists

* Fr. Mary Bastian - Roman Catholic parish priest and human rights activist * Fr. Thiruchelvam Nihal Jim Brown - Roman Catholic parish priest and activist; missing since August 20, 2006; presumed dead *

Radhika Coommaraswamy Deshamanya Radhika Coomaraswamy (born 17 September 1953)is a Sri Lankan lawyer, diplomat and human rights advocate who served as the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict until 13 J ...

- human rights activist;

Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations An under-secretary-general of the United Nations (USG) is a senior official within the United Nations System, normally appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the secretary-general for a renewable term of four years. Under-s ...

and Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict *

Richard de Zoysa Richard Manik de Zoysa (Tamil: இரிச்சர்ட் டி சோய்சா) ( Sinhala:රිචඩ් ද සොයිසා) (18 March 1958 – 18 February 1990) was a well-known Sri Lankan journalist, author, human rights activ ...

- journalist, author, human rights activist and actor; was abducted and murdered * Rev. Chandra Fernando - Roman Catholic parish priest, human rights activist; Batticaloa Citizens Committee member; murdered *

- professor of Department of Mathematics,

; human rights activist; author of books; member of

Kethesh Loganathan Kethesh Loganathan (full name Ketheeswaran Loganathan, 1952–12 August 2006) was a Sri Lankan Tamil political activist, a Human Rights advocate and deputy secretary general of the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP). He was ...

- Deputy Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat of the Government of Sri Lanka; assassinated *

- murdered human rights activist and author of books; head of the Department of Anatomy,

; member of University Teachers for Human Rights *

Chelvy Thiyagarajah Thiagarajah Selvanithy or (Selvi) from Sri Lanka an International PEN award winner in 1992, who was abducted and executed by the LTTE. Biography Selvi was born into a peasant family in Semamadu, a village about 80 miles south of Jaffna. Ac ...

- feminist and

International PEN award PEN International (known as International PEN until 2010) is a worldwide association of writers, founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere. The association has autonomous Internationa ...

winner

Actors and directors

Sabby Jey Sabina Jeyasingham (born 17 November 1993), known professionally as Sabby Jey, is a New Zealand, Sri Lankan Tamil actress, model, television personality, and advocate. She is best known for her work in Tamil cinema and in 2018 debuted ''Karthik ...

- New Zealand, Sri Lankan Tamil actress and model. *

- stage drama actor and Sinhala film actor brutally killed by Sri Lankan government paramilitary forces during the JVP insurrection; of Tamil and Singhala mixed origin; son of Manorani Sarawanamuttu *

Rukmani Devi Daisy Rasammah Daniels, known popularly as Rukmani Devi (15 January 1923 – 28 October 1978: si, රුක්මණී දේවී) was a Sri Lankan film actress and singer, who was often acclaimed as "The Nightingale of Sri Lanka". She mad ...

- popular film actress *

Suresh Joachim Suresh Joachim Arulanantham (born August 17, 1968) is a Canadian film actor, producer, and multiple-Guinness World Record holder who has broken more than 60 world records. World records Farthest distance run, whilst carrying a 4.5 kg bric ...

film actor and producer *

Chandran Rutnam Chandran Rutnam is a Sri Lankan filmmaker and entrepreneur. Rutnam has hosted numerous Hollywood films for their location shoots in Sri Lanka and Malaysia. He was the Line Producer/Production Supervisor on several international productions incl ...

- film producer / director

Sri Lankan international and first class cricketers, umpires, and administrators

Ignatius Anandappa Ignatius Anandappa (1 February 1939 – 4 July 2012) was a Sri Lankan cricket umpire. He stood in three Test matches between 1992 and 1993 and seven ODI games between 1992 and 1998. See also * List of Test cricket umpires * List of One Da ...

- late Sri Lankan international cricket umpire *

Russel Arnold Russel Premakumaran Arnold (Tamil language, Tamil: ரசல் பிரேமகுமரன் ஆனோல்ட், born 25 October 1973), or Russel Arnold, is a former Sri Lankan cricket team, Sri Lankan cricketer of Sri Lankan Tamil peo ...

- former Sri Lankan Test cricketer and international commentator *

Roy Dias Roy Luke Dias (born 18 October 1952) is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played Tests and ODIs for Sri Lanka. An elegant and stylish right-handed batsman he played 20 Test matches and became the first Sri Lankan to hit 1,000 Test runs. He ...

- former Sri Lankan Test cricketer/vice captain * Kandiah Thirugnansampandapillai Francis - international Test/ODI umpire *

S. Illangaratnam Sabapathypillai Illangaratnam (18 December 1947 – 16 July 2007) was a Sri Lankan cricketer who played in the era prior to Sri Lanka gaining Test status. Early life Born in Irupalai in Jaffna, Illangaratnam attended Colombo Hindu College in ...

- late Sri Lankan cricketer, stalwart of Moratuwa and Bloomfield cricket clubs prior to the Test match era and the coach of Bloomfield C&AC * Pradeep Jayaprakashdaran - Sri Lankan One Day International (ODI) cricket player *

Sridharan Jeganathan Sridharan Jeganathan (11 July 1951 – 14 May 1996) was a Sri Lankan cricketer who played in two Test matches and five One Day Internationals from 1983 to 1988. Jeganathan made his highest first-class score of 74 against Tasmania on Sri Lank ...

- late NCC and Sri Lankan Test cricketer/off spin bowler * Vinothen John - former NCC and Sri Lankan Test cricketer/opening fast medium bowler *

Angelo Mathews Angelo Davis Mathews, (Tamil: அஞ்செலோ மத்தியூஸ்; born 2 June 1987) is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer and a former captain in all formats. Even though he represented Sri Lanka in all three formats, Mathews cur ...

- Sri Lankan

all rounder An all-rounder is a cricketer who regularly performs well at both batting and bowling. Although all bowlers must bat and quite a handful of batsmen do bowl occasionally, most players are skilled in only one of the two disciplines and are consi ...

and former captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team *

Muttiah Muralitharan Deshabandu Muttiah Muralitharan ( si, මුත්තයියා මුරලිදරන්, ta, முத்தையா முரளிதரன், also spelt Muralidaran; born 1972) is a Sri Lankan cricket coach, former professional c ...

- Sri Lankan bowler *

Selliah Ponnadurai Selliah Ponnadurai (25 April 1935 – 15 August 2013) was a Sri Lankan cricket umpire. He stood in three Test matches between 1985 and 1993 and eight ODI games between 1983 and 1993. He died in 2013 at the age of 78. See also * List of Te ...

- late international cricket umpire *

Ravindra Pushpakumara Deshabandu Karuppiahyage Ravindra Pushpakumara (born 21 July 1975 in Panadura ), or Ravindra Pushpakumara, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer of Tamil - Sinhalese mixed ancestry. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler. He ...

- Karupiah Raveendra Pushpakumara, born to a Tamil father and Sinhala mother *

Ravi Ratnayeke Joseph Ravindran Ratnayeke (born 2 May 1960), is a Sri Lankan businessman and former cricketer who was ODI captain of Sri Lanka national cricket team. Ratnayeke played 22 Tests and 78 ODIs from 1982 to 1990, his Test best bowling performance of ...

(Joseph Raveendran Ratnayeke) - former Sri Lankan vice captain; Tamil-Sinhala mixed *

Mahadevan Sathasivam Mahadevan "Satha" Sathasivam (18 October 1915, Ceylon – 9 July 1977 in Colombo, Sri Lanka), or Satha as he was known, is one of the greatest batsmen from Sri Lankan whom Garry Sobers called "the greatest batsman ever on earth," and Frank Worr ...

- cricket batsman * Mario Villavarayan - former NCC and first class cricketer * Suthershini Sivanantham - Sri Lankan women's cricketer

Other athletes and sports people

Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam Dr Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam is a former Sri Lankan athlete who represented Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) at the 1952 (Helsinki) and 1956 (Melbourne) Summer Olympic Games. Ethirveerasingam also participated in three Asian Games: 1954 (Manil ...

- high jumper; v Olympic Games and Asian Games; winner of Ceylon's first gold medal in international track and field competition (high jump,

1958 Asian Games The 1958 Asian Games, officially the Third Asian Games ( ja, 第3回アジア競技大会) and commonly known as Tokyo 1958, was a multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan, from 24 May to 1 June 1958. It was governed by the Asian Games Federation. A ...

) * Sujan Perera, footballer * Sunil Roshan Appuhamy

Authors, writers, poets and artists

* Alagu Subramaniam - Writer, a prominent figure in London's Bloomsbury literary circle, a

Barrister-at-Law A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include taking cases in superior courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, researching law and givin ...

of The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, and an

Advocate An advocate is a professional in the field of law. Different countries' legal systems use the term with somewhat differing meanings. The broad equivalent in many English law–based jurisdictions could be a barrister or a solicitor. However, ...

of the

Supreme Court of Ceylon The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka ( si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා ශ්‍රේෂ්ඨාධිකරණය, Sri Lanka Sreshthadikaranaya; ta, இலங்கை உயர் நீதிமன்றம், Ilankai uyar neetimanram) is th ...

V. Akilesapillai V. Akilesapillai (March 7, 1853 – January 1, 1910) was a Sri Lankan Tamil scholar, poet and writer. Akilesapillai was born on March 7, 1853, in the town of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. He was a trained teacher and also served as a Head Master of ...

- author, scholar, poet and Hindu activist *

Ananda Coomaraswamy Ananda Kentish Muthu Coomaraswamy ( ta, ஆனந்த குமாரசுவாமி, ''Ānanda Kentiś Muthū Kumāraswāmī''; si, ආනන්ද කුමාරස්වාමි ''Ānanda Kumārasvāmī''; 22 August 1877 − 9 Septem ...

- Orientalist, author, philosopher and metaphysician *

Dominic Jeeva Dominic Jeeva ta, டொமினிக் ஜீவா; 27 June 1927 – 28 January 2021) was a Sri Lankan Tamil author. Jeeva was for a period of time forgotten as a writer. He first became known to non-Tamil speaking readers after a review ...

- author and social activist * S. Kanapathipillai - scholar *

Muttukumara Kavirajar Muttukumara Kavirajar (1780–1851), the Ceylon / Sri Lankan Tamil poet, was one of the earliest Hindus to protest via published native literature the conversion attempts by the various Protestant missionaries within the Jaffna peninsula in Sri La ...

- poet and Hindu activist *

Kumaraswamy Pulavar Chunnakam Kumaraswamy Pulavar ( ta, சுன்னாகம் குமாரசாமிப்புலவர்) was a well-known Sri Lankan Tamil scholar and poet from Maylani village in Chunnakam township in Jaffna peninsula in the British ...

- scholar, poet and Hindu activist * D. Raja Segar - painter and sculptor *

C. W. Thamotharampillai Cirupitty Wyravanathar Thamotharampillai (Pillai) ( ta, சி. வை. தாமோதரம்பிள்ளை; 12 September 1832 – 1 January 1901)), sometimes referred to by the initials as C. Y., devoted his energies to the work of editing ...

- editor and 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

Business people

Ken Balendra Deshamanya Kandiah (Ken) Balendra (born 1940)Gunawardena, Charles A., Encyclopedia of Sri Lanka, 2006 Edition, New Dawn Press Group is a Sri Lankan corporate leader and executive, who holds and has held many corporate positions in Sri Lanka and ...

- Sri Lankan corporate leader and executive; holds and has held many corporate positions in Sri Lanka and the region *

- filmmaker and owner of Lionair *

- is well known as the co-founder of WBBAS, No Poverty No Disease No War, World Peace Marathon and Suresh Joachim International Group Of Companies.

Diplomats

Yogendra Duraiswamy Yogendra Duraiswamy, SLOS was a Sri Lankan diplomat, who served in India, Myanmar, the United States (New York), Australia, Iraq, Italy, China and the Philippines. Early life and education He was born in 1923 in Jaffna to Sir Waithilingam Duraiswa ...

- first batch of Ceylon Overseas Service, 1949 * Tamara Kunanayakam - Sri Lankan Ambassador to Cuba (2008-2009); Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva

Historical figures

* Arumaipperumal -

Batticaloa Batticaloa ( ta, மட்டக்களப்பு, ''Maṭṭakkaḷappu''; si, මඩකලපුව, ''Maḍakalapuwa'') is a major city in the Eastern Province, Sri Lanka, and its former capital. It is the administrative capital of the B ...

chieftain who led a rebellion against the British colonial occupiers in 1803 *

Cankili I Cankili I ( ta, சங்கிலியன்) (died 1565), also known as Segarasasekaram (Jaga Rajasekharam), is the most remembered Jaffna kingdom king in the Sri Lankan Tamil history. He was very active in resisting Portuguese colonial inroads ...

(Sankili Segarajasekaran) - a prominent king of the

Jaffna Kingdom The Jaffna Kingdom ( ta, யாழ்ப்பாண அரசு, si, යාපනය රාජධානිය; 1215–1624 CE), also known as Kingdom of Aryachakravarti, was a historical kingdom of what today is northern Sri Lanka. It came i ...

Cankili II Cankili II ( ta, சங்கிலி குமாரன், translit=Caṅkili Kumāraṉ; died 1619) was the last king of the Jaffna kingdom and was a usurper who came to throne with a palace massacre of the royal prince and the regent A ...

- last king of the

Jaffna kingdom The Jaffna Kingdom ( ta, யாழ்ப்பாண அரசு, si, යාපනය රාජධානිය; 1215–1624 CE), also known as Kingdom of Aryachakravarti, was a historical kingdom of what today is northern Sri Lanka. It came i ...

Migapulle Arachchi Migapulle Arachchi ( or ) also known as ''Chinna Migapillai'', was a feudal lord from the Jaffna Kingdom who became a rebel leader just after its Portuguese conquest of the Jaffna kingdom, annexation by the Portuguese Empire in 1619. His title ''Ara ...

- Feudal lord of

who rebelled against the Portuguese colonial occupiers in 1620. * Pandara Vannian (Kulasegaram Vairamuthu Pandaravanniyan) - Vanni chieftain who challenged British rule

Tamil historical figures who ruled the Sinhalese kingdom

Sena and Guttika Sena and Guttika were two Tamils, Tamil horse traders thought to be from South India who killed and usurped the throne of the reigning Anuradhapura Kingdom, Anuradhapura king Suratissa of Anuradhapura, Suratissa. They reigned for 22 years from 237 ...

- Tamil horse merchants who ascended the throne in

Anuradhapura Anuradhapura ( si, අනුරාධපුරය, translit=Anurādhapuraya; ta, அனுராதபுரம், translit=Aṉurātapuram) is a major city located in north central plain of Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of North Central ...

, 237-215 BC *

Ellalan Ellalan ( ta, எல்லாளன், translit=Ellāḷaṉ; si, එළාර, translit=Eḷāra) was a member of the Tamil Chola dynasty, also known as "Manu Needhi Cholan", who upon capturing the throne became king of the Anuradhapura King ...

- ruled Anuradhapura from 205 BC to 161 BC; considered a most impartial and just monarch *

Pulahatta The Five Dravidian were five Tamil Chiefs apparently from the Pandyan Dynasty who ruled the Anuradhapura Kingdom for 14 years from 103 BC to 88 BC. Background Before the Five Dravidians invaded the island, the Anuradhapura Kingdom was ru ...

- Tamil king, ruled from Anuradhapura 103 -100 BC *

Bahiya The Five Dravidian were five Tamil Chiefs apparently from the Pandyan Dynasty who ruled the Anuradhapura Kingdom for 14 years from 103 BC to 88 BC. Background Before the Five Dravidians invaded the island, the Anuradhapura Kingdom was rule ...

- Tamil king, ruled from Anuradhapura 100-98 BC *

Panya Mara The Five Dravidian were five Tamil Chiefs apparently from the Pandyan Dynasty who ruled the Anuradhapura Kingdom for 14 years from 103 BC to 88 BC. Background Before the Five Dravidians invaded the island, the Anuradhapura Kingdom was rule ...

- Tamil king, ruled from Anuradhapura 98-91 BC *

Pilaya Mara The Five Dravidian were five Tamil Chiefs apparently from the Pandyan Dynasty who ruled the Anuradhapura Kingdom for 14 years from 103 BC to 88 BC. Background Before the Five Dravidians invaded the island, the Anuradhapura Kingdom was ru ...

- Tamil King, ruled from Anuradapura 91-90 BC *

Dathiya The Six Dravidians were six Tamil rulers apparently from the Pandyan Dynasty who ruled the Anuradhapura Kingdom from 436 to 452 CE. They are said to be Buddhist, taking Buddhist epithets such as the 'servant of Buddha' and are known to ha ...

- Tamil King of Anuradhapura 447-450 AD *

Pandu In the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata'', Pandu ( sa, पाण्डु, Pāṇḍu, pale) was a king of the Kuru Kingdom. He was the foster-father of the five Pandava brothers, who were the boons bestowed upon his wife Kunti by a number of deities ...

- Tamil king from 436 to 441 BC *

Parindu The Six Dravidians were six Tamil rulers apparently from the Pandyan Dynasty who ruled the Anuradhapura Kingdom from 436 to 452 CE. They are said to be Buddhist, taking Buddhist epithets such as the 'servant of Buddha' and are known to hav ...

- son of Pandu, ruled for one year, 441 BC *

Khudda Parinda The Six Dravidians were six Tamil rulers apparently from the Pandyan Dynasty who ruled the Anuradhapura Kingdom from 436 to 452 CE. They are said to be Buddhist, taking Buddhist epithets such as the 'servant of Buddha' and are known to hav ...

- brother of Pandu, ruled 441-447 BC *

Tiritara The Six Dravidians were six Tamil rulers apparently from the Pandyan Dynasty who ruled the Anuradhapura Kingdom from 436 to 452 CE. They are said to be Buddhist, taking Buddhist epithets such as the 'servant of Buddha' and are known to ha ...

- 447 BC *

- 447-450 BC *

Pithiya The Six Dravidians were six Tamil rulers apparently from the Pandyan Dynasty who ruled the Anuradhapura Kingdom from 436 to 452 CE. They are said to be Buddhist, taking Buddhist epithets such as the 'servant of Buddha' and are known to ha ...

- 450-452 * Chempaha Perumal - a Jaffna Tamil who ascended the Sinhala throne as King

Bhuvanekabahu VI of Kotte Bhuvanekabahu VI of Kotte (, ), also known as Sapumal Kumaraya and Chempaka Perumal, was an adopted son of Parakramabahu VI, whose principal achievement was the conquest of Jaffna Kingdom in 1447 or 1450.Gnanaprakasar, S ''A critical history of ...

Journalists and broadcasters

* S. P. Mylvaganam - first Tamil announcer of the Commercial Service of

Radio Ceylon Radio Ceylon ( si, ලංකා ගුවන් විදුලි සේවය ''Lanka Guwan Viduli Sevaya'', ta, இலங்கை வானொலி, ''ilankai vanoli'') is a radio station based in Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) and the first ...

* A. Nadesan - murdered

Virakesari ''Virakesari'' is one of the leading Tamil daily newspapers in Sri Lanka. It is the oldest and the largest circulated Tamil Newspaper in Sri Lanka. Virakesari is owned by Express Newspapers (Ceylon) (Private) Limited, a leading print and web ...

newspaper journalist * M. Nimalrajan - murdered journalist,

BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board ex ...

reporter * K. S. Raja - Radio Ceylon announcer *

Claude Selveratnam Claude Selveratnam was a popular radio announcer of Radio Ceylon - the oldest radio station in South Asia. Selveratnam read the English news bulletins of Radio Ceylon as well as presenting some of the popular radio programs of the day such a ...

- Radio Ceylon announcer * Kailayar Sellanainar Sivakumaran - broadcaster and Journalist in English and Tamil *

Taraki Sivaram Taraki Sivaram or Dharmeratnam Sivaram (11 August 1959 – 28 April 2005) was a popular Tamil journalist of Sri Lanka. He was kidnapped by four men in a white van on 28 April 2005, in front of the Bambalapitya police station. His body was foun ...

- journalist, military analyst editor of

TamilNet TamilNet is an online newspaper that provides news and feature articles on current affairs in Sri Lanka, specifically related to the erstwhile Sri Lankan Civil War. The website was formed by members of the Sri Lankan Tamil community residing in ...

news website, author of books *

J. S. Tissainayagam Jayaprakash Sittampalam Tissainayagam (known as J. S. Tissainayagam, Tamil Language, Tamil: ''ஜெயப்பிரகாஷ் சிற்றம்பலம் திசைநாயகம்'') is a Sri Lankan journalist. He was detained b ...

- journalist and first winner of the Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism

Lawyers and judges

* V. Casipillai - Crown Proctor, President of the Jaffna Hindu Board, co-founder of

Jaffna Hindu College Jaffna Hindu College ( ta, யாழ்ப்பாணம் இந்துக் கல்லூரி, translit=Yāḻppāṇam Intuk Kallūri; si, යාපනය හින්දු විද්‍යාලය, translit=Yāpanaya Hindu Vidyāl ...

, founder of Parvathy Maha Vidyalayam and other educational institutions * Hon. Justice V. Manicavasagar - Justice of the

Supreme Court of Sri Lanka The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka ( si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා ශ්‍රේෂ්ඨාධිකරණය, Sri Lanka Sreshthadikaranaya; ta, இலங்கை உயர் நீதிமன்றம், Ilankai uyar neetimanram) is th ...

, Chancellor of the

and Chairman of the

Commercial Bank of Ceylon Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC (CBC) also known as ComBank is a licensed commercial bank in Sri Lanka and its ownership is private. It was incorporated as a public limited company and it is listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange. It is regarded ...

* K. Kanag-Isvaran - Lawyer and

President's Counsel President's Counsel (postnominal PC) is an eminent lawyer who is appointed by the President of Sri Lanka to be one of the "President's Counsel learned in the law". The term is also recognized as an honorific which replaced the practice of appoint ...

* S. Selliah - Justice of the Court of Appeal, Judge of the High Court, Magistrate * S. Sharvananda -

Chief Justice of Sri Lanka The Chief Justice of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the head of the judiciary of Sri Lanka and the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. Established in 1801, the Chief Justice is one of ten Supreme Court justices; the other nine are t ...

, Justice of the

and

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

of the

Western Province Western Province or West Province may refer to: *Western Province, Cameroon *Western Province, Rwanda *Western Province (Kenya) *Western Province (Papua New Guinea) *Western Province (Solomon Islands) *Western Province, Sri Lanka *Western Provinc ...

* K. Sripavan - 44th Chief justice,

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

* H. D. Thambiah - Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice of the Supreme Court, and Chief Justice of Sri Lanka * H. W. Thambiah - Justice of the Supreme Court

Militants and rebels

Velupillai Prabhakaran Velupillai Prabhakaran (; ta, வேலுப்பிள்ளை பிரபாகரன்; , (26 November 1954 – 18 May 2009) was a Sri Lankan Tamil guerrilla and the founder and leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ...

(Karikalan) - Leader of the

LTTE The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE; ta, தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகள், translit=Tamiḻīḻa viṭutalaip pulikaḷ, si, දෙමළ ඊළාම් විමුක්ති කොටි, t ...

and of the de facto state of

Tamil Eelam Tamil Eelam ( ta, தமிழீழம், ''tamiḻ īḻam''; generally rendered outside Tamil-speaking areas as தமிழ் ஈழம்) is a proposed independent state that many Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora as ...

till 2009. *

Charles Lucas Anthony Charles Lucas Anthony ( ta, சாள்ஸ் லூக்காஸ் அன்ரனி; 11 December 1960 – 15 July 1983; commonly known by the nom de guerre Seelan) was a Sri Lankan Tamil rebel and leading member of the Liberation Tiger ...

(Seelan) - senior

Tamil Tiger The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE; ta, தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகள், translit=Tamiḻīḻa viṭutalaip pulikaḷ, si, දෙමළ ඊළාම් විමුක්ති කොටි, t ...

commander * V. Baheerathakumar (Theepan) - senior Tamil Tiger commander, de facto military leader * V. Balakumaran - former leader of

Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students The Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students (EROS), also known as the Eelam Revolutionary Organisers, is a former Tamil militant group in Sri Lanka. Most of the EROS membership was absorbed into the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in ...

, later joined the Tamil Tigers *

Anton Balasingham Anton Balasingham Stanislaus ( ta, ஆண்டன் பாலசிங்கம் சிடானிசுலாசு, translit=Āṇṭaṉ Pālaciṅkam Ciṭāṉisulās; 4 March 1938 – 14 December 2006) was a Sri Lankan Tamil journal ...

- chief political strategist and chief negotiator for the Tamil Tigers * S. Chandrakanthan (Pillayan) - Tamil Tiger member, defected to the Sri Lankan Government;

Chief Minister A chief minister is an elected or appointed head of government of – in most instances – a sub-national entity, for instance an administrative subdivision or federal constituent entity. Examples include a state (and sometimes a union terri ...

of the Eastern Province *

Douglas Devananda Kathiravelu Nythiananda Devananda, commonly known as Douglas Devananda ( ta, டக்ளஸ் தேவானந்தா), is a Sri Lankan Tamil politician, Cabinet Minister and leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party. Originally a Sri ...

- Tiger deserter; former

militant The English word ''militant'' is both an adjective and a noun, and it is generally used to mean vigorously active, combative and/or aggressive, especially in support of a cause, as in "militant reformers". It comes from the 15th century Latin " ...

turned politician; founder and leader of the

Eelam People's Democratic Party The Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) is a political party and a pro-government paramilitary organization in Sri Lanka. It is led by its founder Douglas Devananda. Background Douglas Devananda was one of the founding members of the Eelam Re ...

political party and a pro-government paramilitary organization; Government Minister and Member of Parliament * B. Kandiah (Balraj) - senior Tamil Tiger commander * S. Krishnakumar (Kittu) - senior Tamil Tiger commander * G. Mahendraraja (Mahattaya) - Deputy Leader of the Tamil Tigers and head of the

People's Front of Liberation Tigers The People's Front of Liberation Tigers ( ta, விடுதலைப் புலிகள் மக்கள் முன்னணி) is a political party in Sri Lanka, founded as the political wing of the LTTE in 1989. Mahattaya was the foundi ...

* V. Muralitharan (Karuna Amman) - senior Tamil Tiger commander, defected to the Sri Lankan Government; Government Minister and appointed Member of Parliament *

B. Nadesan Balasingham Nadesan (Tamil:பாலசிங்கம் நடேசன்) was the Political Chief of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from late 2007 until his death in 2009. He was formerly the organization's Chief of Police. Per ...

- Tamil Tiger political leader * A. Neminathan (CRaju) - senior Tamil Tiger commander *

R. Parthipan R. Parthipan (born 4 June 1963) is an Indian politician and Member of Parliament elected from Tamil Nadu. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Theni constituency as an Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate in 2014 File:2014 Events Collage ...

(Thileepan) - Tamil Tiger political wing member who died during a hunger strike * S. Pathmanathan (KP) - senior Tamil Tiger member; now collaborating with the Sri Lankan government *

Arul Pragasam Arulappu Richard Arulpragasam (13 April 1948 – 3 December 2019); also known by the names Arular and A. R. Arulpragasam) was a Tamil activist and former revolutionary from Jaffna who had a part in forming the group Eelam Revolutionary Organisa ...

- founder and leader of

Thenmozhi Rajaratnam The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India, occurred as a result of a suicide bombing in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu, India on 21 May 1991. At least 14 others, in addition to Rajiv Gandhi, were killed. It was carried ou ...

- assassin who killed

Rajiv Gandhi Rajiv Gandhi (; 20 August 1944 – 21 May 1991) was an Indian politician who served as the sixth prime minister of India from 1984 to 1989. He took office after the 1984 assassination of his mother, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, to beco ...

* E. Ratnasabapathy - founder member of

* S. Ravishankar (Charles) - Tamil Tiger military intelligence wing leader *

Sri Sabaratnam Sundaram Sri Sabaratnam ( ta, சிறி சபாரத்தினம்; 28 August 1952 – 6 May 1986) was a Sri Lankan Tamil rebel and leader of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO), a separatist Tamil militant organisation ...

- leader of

Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization The Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) is an Eelam Tamil organisation which campaigned for the establishment of an independent Tamil Eelam in the northeast of Sri Lanka during 1972-1987 which later accepted the December 19th proposals. T ...

* T. Sivanesan ( Soosai) - Tamil Tiger Sea Wing leader * P. Sivaparan (Nediyawan) - senior Tamil Tiger member * S. Sivashankar (Pottu Amman) - Tamil Tigers Intelligence Wing leader, was number 2 in the organisation * V. Sornalingam (Shankar) - founder of

Sea Tigers The Sea Tigers (Tamil: கடற்புலிகள் ''Kaţaṛpulikaḷ'') was the naval wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam during the Sri Lankan Civil War. It was founded in 1984. The Sea Tigers had a number of small but effectiv ...

and

Air Tigers The Tamil Eelam Air Force or Sky Tigers (Tamil: வான்புலிகள்) was the aircraft, air-wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who used it against the Government of Sri Lanka. They also called themselves the Tamileel ...

wing of the Tamil Tigers *

S. P. Thamilselvan Suppayya Paramu Thamilselvan, commonly known as S. P. Tamilselvan, (sometimes transcribed as "Tamilchelvan"), ''Sunday Times''Situation Report: SLAF regains its image with powerful strike/ref> was the leader of the political wing of the Liberati ...

- Tamil Tiger political leader * N. Thangathurai - co-founder and leader of

* K. Ulaganathan (Ramanan) - senior Tamil Tiger commander * V. Vasanthan (Miller) - first

Black Tiger A black tiger is a rare colour variant of the tiger, and is not a distinct species or geographic subspecies. Description There are reports and one painting (now lost) of pure black non-striped tigers (true melanistic tigers). Most black mammal ...

* S. Yogachandran (Kuttimani) - co-founder and leader of

Military

* Air Vice Marshal P.B. Premachandra - former Chief of Staff,

Sri Lanka Air Force The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) ( si, ශ්‍රි ලංකා ගුවන් හමුදාව, Śrī Laṃkā guwan hamudāva; ta, இலங்கை விமானப்படை, Ilaṅkai vimāṉappaṭai) is the air arm and the yo ...

* Air Vice Marshal Ravi Arunthavanathan - former Deputy Chief of Staff,

and current Additional Secretary, Ministry of Defence * Major General Y. Balaretnarajah, Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya, Uttama Seva Padakkama, National Defence College, India, Sri Lanka Armoured Corps - Chief of Staff, Sri Lanka Army (1992-1992) * Rear Admiral

Rajan Kadiragamar Rear Admiral Rajanathan "Rajan" Kadiragamar, MVO (born 1922) was a Ceylonese flag officer. He was the second Ceylonese Captain of the Royal Ceylon Navy from 1960 to 1970 and as such the longest serving Commander of the Navy. Early life and educa ...

, Royal Victorian Order, Royal Ceylon Navy - former Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy * Air Vice Marshal A. Kumaresan, Rana Sura Padakkama, Uttama Seva Padakkama, Psc (British Army), Sri Lanka Air Force - current Director of Planning, Sri Lanka Air Force * Major General

Anton Muttukumaru Major General Anton Muttukumaru, OBE, ED, ADC (6 July 1908 – 2001) was the first native Ceylonese to serve as the Commander of the Ceylon Army (now Sri Lankan Army), a post he held from 1955 to 1959. He also served as Ceylon's High Commiss ...

, OBE, Efficiency Decoration; Aide-de-camp, Ceylon Light Infantry; first Ceylonese Commander of the Sri Lanka Army * Vice Admiral

Travis Sinniah Admiral Travis Jeremy Liyanduru Sinniah, WWV, RWP, RSP, USP, ndu, psc was a Sri Lankan admiral and the 21st Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy. He has served as the Commander of Sri Lanka's Eastern Naval Area and as Flag Officer Commanding ...

, Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya, Rana Wickrama Padakkama, Rana Sura Padakkama, Uttama Seva Padakkama, ndu - 21st

Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy The Commander of the Navy is the professional head of the Sri Lanka Navy. The current Commander of the Navy is Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera. It is a position equivalent to that of First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy or Chief of Naval Operations ...

, veteran of attack flotilla * Major General

E. G. Thevanayagam Major General E. George Thevanayagam, VSV was a Sri Lankan general, he served as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army, Commandant of the Volunteer Force, and later first Director of the National Cadet Corps. Born and educated in Jaffna, Th ...

, Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya - Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (1984–1986) * Major General Chelliah Thurairaja, Uttama Seva Padakkama, Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps - former Director Army Medical Services and Colonel Commandant Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps * Colonel

David Rockwood Colonel David Narasiah Rockwood, KStJ, ED, JP (2 February 1914 – 1976) was a Sri Lankan army officer and corporate executive. He was the Deputy Commandant of the Volunteer Force. Born in to a Tamil family of doctors, his father was Dr David ...

KStJ The Order of St John, short for Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (french: l'ordre très vénérable de l'Hôpital de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem) and also known as St John International, is a British royal order of c ...

, ED, JP - Deputy Commandant of the Volunteer Force

Politicians

Selvam Adaikalanathan Amirthanathan Adaikalanathan ( ta, அமிர்தநாதன் அடைக்கலநாதன், translit=Amirtanātaṉ Aṭaikkalanātaṉ; born 10 June 1962), commonly known as Selvam Adaikalanathan, is a Sri Lankan Tamil militant tu ...

- President of the

and Member of Parliament * A. Amirthalingam - leader of the

Tamil United Liberation Front The Tamil United Liberation Front ( ta, தமிழர் ஐக்கிய விடுதலை முன்னணி, translit=Tamil Onrupattatu Viduthulai Munnai, si, ද්‍රවිඩ එක්සත් විමුක්ති ප� ...

Leader of the Opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the opposition is typically se ...

and Member of Parliament *

V. Anandasangaree Veerasingham Anandasangaree ( ta, வீரசிங்கம் ஆனந்தசங்கரி) is a leading Sri Lankan Tamil politician, former Member of Parliament and leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front. He is commonly known as San ...

- leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front and Member of Parliament * Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam CCS - pre-independence politician and civil servant; Registrar General; member of

Executive Council of Ceylon The Executive Council of Ceylon was the Executive Council created in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) by the British colonial administration on the recommendations of the Colebrooke-Cameron Commission along with the Legislative Council of Ceylon in March ...

; member of

Legislative Council of Ceylon The Legislative Council of Ceylon was the legislative body of British Ceylon, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) established in 1833, along with the Executive Council of Ceylon, on the recommendations of the Colebrooke-Cameron Commission. It was the first f ...

* A. Canagaratnam - member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon, Chairman of the first Urban Council of

Jaffna Jaffna (, ) is the capital city of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna District located on a peninsula of the same name. With a population of 88,138 in 2012, Jaffna is Sri Lanka's 12th most ...

; founder of Canagaratnam Maha Vidyalayam (formerly Stanley College) in Jaffna * S. J. V. Chelvanayakam - political leader of the Sri Lankan Tamil people; founder and leader of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (Federal Party); leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front; Member of Parliament *

A. Coomaraswamy Arumugampillai Coomaraswamy ( ta, ஆறுமுகம்பிள்ளை குமாரசுவாமி; 1783 – 7 November 1836) was a Ceylon Tamil member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon. Early life and family Coomaraswamy was ...

- member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon * Sir Muthu Coomaraswamy - member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon; first Asian to be knighted; father of author

Ananda K. Coomaraswamy: From Geology to philosophia perennis
/ref> *

Militant The English word ''militant'' is both an adjective and a noun, and it is generally used to mean vigorously active, combative and/or aggressive, especially in support of a cause, as in "militant reformers". It comes from the 15th century Latin " ...

turned politician; founder and leader of the

paramilitary group; Government Minister and Member of Parliament *

K. W. Devanayagam Deshamanya Kanapathipillai William "Bill" Devanayagam (26 March 1910 – 17 December 2002) was a Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer, politician, government minister and Member of Parliament. Early life Devanayagam was born on 26 March 1910. A Roman Cat ...

- former minister, Member of Parliament, lawyer who represented Kalkudah seat *

Waithilingam Duraiswamy Sir Waithilingam Duraiswamy ( ta, வைத்திலிங்கம் துரைசுவாமி; 8 June 1874 – 12 April 1966) was a Ceylon Tamil lawyer, politician and speaker of the State Council of Ceylon. Early life and family ...

- pre-independence Sri Lankan lawyer, politician and speaker of the State Council of Ceylon *

Alfred Duraiappah Alfred Thangarajah Duraiappah (15 June 1926 – 27 July 1975) was a Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer, politician, Mayor of Jaffna and Member of Parliament. Early life and family Duraiappah was born on 15 June 1926. He was the son of an ice and aerated wa ...

- Member of Parliament from 1960 to 1964; Mayor of Jaffna *

Jeyaraj Fernandopulle Jeyaraj Fernandopulle ( si, ජෙයරාජ් ප්‍රනාන්දුපුල්ලේ, ta, ஜெயராஜ் பெர்னான்டோபுள்ளே, 11 January 1953 – 6 April 2008) was a Sri Lankan politician ...

- slain SLFP politician, a Negombo chetty *

Mano Ganesan Akilan Manoharan Ganesan (born 17 December 1959) is a Sri Lankan trade unionist, politician and government minister. He is the leader of the Democratic People's Front (DPF) and Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), members of the United National Fron ...

- leader of the

Democratic People's Front The Western People's Front, currently named the Democratic People's Front ( ta, ஜனநாயக மக்கள் முன்னணி, translit=Jaṉanāyaka Makkaḷ Muṉṉaṇi; si, ප්රජාතන්ත්රවාදී ජන ...

political party; Member of Parliament; member of

Western Provincial Council The Western Province ( si, බස්නාහිර පළාත ''Basnāhira Paḷāta''; ta, மேல் மாகாணம் ''Mael Mākāṇam'') is one of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka, the first level administrative division of the c ...

Praba Ganeshan Adawan Amal Praba Ganesan ( ta, பிரபா கணேசன்; born 4 January 1964) is a Sri Lankan politician and former Member of Parliament. He is the current leader of the Democratic People's Congress (DPC), a member of the United Peopl ...

- MP *

Lakshman Kadirgamar Sri Lankabhimanya Lakshman Kadirgamar, President's Counsel, PC ( ta, லக்ஷமன் கதிர்காமர்; si, ලක්ෂ්මන් කදිර්ගාමර්, 12 April 1932 – 12 August 2005) was a Sri Lankan lawyer ...

Minister of Foreign Affairs A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between cou ...

; nominated Member of Parliament * N. Kumaraguruparan - General Secretary of

political party; General Secretary and Senior Vice President of

All Ceylon Tamil Congress All Ceylon Tamil Congress ( ta, அகில இலங்கைத் தமிழ்க் காங்கிரஸ்), is the oldest Tamil political party in Sri Lanka. History The ACTC was founded in 1944 by G.G. Ponnambalam. Ponnambalam ask ...

; member of the

Colombo Municipal Council The Colombo Municipal Council is the municipal governing body of Colombo, the largest city and financial centre in Sri Lanka. It consists of a directly elected executive Mayor of Colombo, current elect is Rosy Senanayake, and 119 elected 119 muni ...

; member of

* Sir Arunachalam Mahadeva - Minister of Home Affairs; member of the

State Council of Ceylon The State Council of Ceylon was the unicameral legislature for Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), established in 1931 by the Donoughmore Constitution. The State Council gave universal adult franchise to the people of the colony for the first time. It r ...

; member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon * S. Nadesan - member of the

, Member of Parliament,

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

Joseph Pararajasingham Joseph Pararajasingham ( ta, யோசப் பரராஜசிங்கம்; 26 November 1934 – 25 December 2005) was a Sri Lankan Tamil civil servant, journalist, businessman and politician. He was Member of Parliament for Batticaloa ...

- Member of Parliament * C. Ponnambalam - first Mayor of

G. G. Ponnambalam Ganapathipillai Gangaser Ponnambalam ( ta, கணபதி காங்கேசர் பொன்னம்பலம்; 8 November 1901 – 9 February 1977) was a Ceylon Tamil lawyer, politician and cabinet minister. He was the founder and l ...

- political leader of the Sri Lankan Tamil people; founder and leader of the

; government minister and Member of Parliament *

Kumar Ponnambalam Gaasinather Gangaser Ponnambalam ( ta, காசிநாதர் காங்கேசர் பொன்னம்பலம்: 12 August 1938 – 5 January 2000; known as Kumar Ponnambalam) was a Sri Lankan lawyer and politician. Leader of th ...

- Nationalist politician and human rights activist; leader of

; presidential candidate *

Suresh Premachandran Arumugam Kandaiah Premachandran ( ta, ஆறுமுகம் கந்தையா பிரேமச்சந்திரன்; born 8 November 1957; commonly known as Suresh Premachandran) is a Sri Lankan Tamil militant turned politician a ...

- leader of the

Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front The Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) is a series of Sri Lankan political parties and a former militant separatist group. Militant separatists The EPRLF was formed in 1980 by K. Pathmanabha (Padmanaba), Douglas Devananda, Su ...

and Member of Parliament * Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan - pre-independence politician and political leader of the Sri Lankan Tamil people;

Solicitor General of Ceylon The Solicitor General of Sri Lanka is a post subordinate to the Attorney General of Sri Lanka. The Solicitor General of Sri Lanka assists the Attorney General, and is assisted by four Additional Solicitors General. Note that the post was Solicit ...

; member of Legislative Council of Ceylon *

N. Raviraj Nadarajah Raviraj ( ta, நடராஜா ரவிராஜ், translit=naṭarājā ravirāj, ; 25 June 1962 – 10 November 2006) was a Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer and politician. He was Mayor of Jaffna in 2001 and a Member of Parliament for J ...

- Member of Parliament * James T. Rutnam - historian, educationalist, author and politician *

A. Sabapathy Arunachalam Sabapathy (1853 – 1924) was a Ceylon Tamil newspaper editor, politician and member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon. Early life and family Sabapathy was born in 1853 in Thalaiyali near Vannarpannai in northern Ceylon. He ...

- member of Legislative Council of Ceylon; one of the founders of

; editor of ''Hindu Organ''; President of Jaffna Association * T. M. Sabaratnam - member of Legislative Council of Ceylon; President of the Vattrapalai Kannagi Amman Kovil Trust *

R. Sampanthan Rajavarothiam Sampanthan ( ta, இராஜவரோதயம் சம்பந்தன்; si, රාජවරෝදියම් සම්බන්දන්; born 5 February 1933) is a Sri Lankan Tamil politician and lawyer who has led the Ta ...

- Leader of

Tamil National Alliance The Tamil National Alliance ( ta, தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பு ISO 15919: ''tamiḻt tēciyakkūṭṭamaippu''; TNA) is a political alliance in Sri Lanka that represents the country's Sri Lankan ...

political party; Member of Parliament *

S. Sellamuttu Sangarapully "Sangare" Sellamuttu, OBE ( ta, சங்கரப்பிள்ளை செல்லமுத்து, 25 February 1916 – 1993) was a Sri Lankan politician and philanthropist. He was a member of the Colombo Municipal Counc ...

, OBE - Colombo mayor, 1951 * N. Shanmugathasan - General Secretary of the

Ceylon Communist Party (Maoist) Ceylon Communist Party (Maoist) is a political party in Sri Lanka. The party surged in 1964 following a split in the Ceylon Communist Party. Initially the party just called itself 'Ceylon Communist Party' as well, and was distinguished from the ...

C. Sittampalam Cathiravelu Sittampalam ( ta, கதிரவேலு சிற்றம்பலம்; 13 September 1898 – 3 February 1964) was a Ceylon Tamil civil servant, politician, Member of Parliament and government minister. Early life and famil ...

- Minister of Posts and Telecommunications in the first Cabinet of independent

Ceylon Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

; Member of Parliament * S. Sivamaharajah - Member of Parliament; managing director of Namathu Eelanadu * M. Sivasithamparam - Deputy Speaker of the Parliament *

C. Suntharalingam Chellappah Suntharalingam ( ta, செல்லப்பா சுந்தரலிங்கம்; 19 August 1895 – 11 February 1985) was a Ceylon Tamil academic, politician, Member of Parliament and government minister. Early life and f ...

- Government Minister and Member of Parliament *

Bala Tampoe Bala Tampoe (23 May 1922 – 1 September 2014) was a Sri Lankan lawyer and a trade unionist. He was the General Secretary of the Ceylon Mercantile, Industrial and General Workers Union (CMU) in Sri Lanka. Early life and education Born on 23 May 1 ...

- veteran trade unionist; General Secretary of the Ceylon Mercantile, Industrial and General Workers Union * Arumugam Thondaman - leader of the CWC *

S. Thondaman Savumiamoorthy Thondaman (30 August 1913 – 30 October 1999; also spelled ''Saumyamurthy Thondaman'' or ''Saumiyamoorthy Thondaman'') was a Sri Lankan politician who represented the Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka ar ...

- leader of the

Ceylon Workers' Congress The Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC) ( ta, இலங்கை தொழிலாளர் காங்கிரஸ், translit=Ilaṅkai Toḻilāḷar Kāṅkiras; si, ලංකා කම්කරු කොංග්‍රසය ''Lanka Kamkaru ...

, Government Minister, Member of Parliament * Murugeysen Tiruchelvam - Government Minister and

Neelan Tiruchelvam Neelakandan Tiruchelvam, PC ( ta, நீலகண்டன் திருச்செல்வம்; 31 January 1944 – 29 July 1999) was a Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer, academic, human rights activist and politician. He was a Member of Parli ...

- Member of Parliament * Sir Kanthiah Vaithianathan KBE CCS - Minister for Housing, Industry and Social Service; first

Permanent Secretary A permanent secretary (also known as a principal secretary) is the most senior Civil Service (United Kingdom), civil servant of a department or Ministry (government department), ministry charged with running the department or ministry's day-to-day ...

to the

Ministry of External Affairs and Defence Ministry may refer to: Government * Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister * Ministry (government department), a department of a government Religion * Christian mi ...

(1947–1952);

A. Vinayagamoorthy Appathurai Vinayagamoorthy ( ta, அப்பாத்துரை விநாயகமூர்த்தி; 19 December 1933 – 28 May 2017) was a Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer, politician and Member of Parliament. He was leader and president of th ...

- President of

and Member of Parliament *

Sarojini Yogeswaran Sarojini Yogeswaran (née Ponnambalam) was a Sri Lankan politician. Yogeswaran was a member of the Tamil United Liberation Front. In 1997, she was elected mayor of Jaffna, the first elected mayor in 14 years and also the first woman mayor of th ...

- Mayor of Jaffna *

V. Yogeswaran Vettivelu Yogeswaran ( ta, வெற்றிவேலு யோகேஸ்வரன்; 5 February 1934 – 13 July 1989) was a Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer, politician and Member of Parliament. Early life and family Yogeswaran was born 5 Febr ...

- co-leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front and Member of Parliament

Religious figures

Arumuka Navalar Arumuka Navalar (; 18 December 1822 – 5 December 1879) was a Sri Lankan Shaivite Tamil language scholar, polemicist, and a religious reformer who was central in reviving native Hindu Tamil traditions in Sri Lanka and India. Navalar's bir ...

- Hindu reformer and author of books from Jaffna *

Swami Vipulananda Swami Vipulananda ( ta, சுவாமி விபுலாநந்தர்) (27 March 1892 – 20 July 1947), also known as Vipulananda Adigal, was a Sri Lankan Tamil Hindu social reformer, literary critic, author, poet, teacher and ascet ...

- Hindu reformer and author of books *

Yogaswami Jnana guru Siva Yogaswami of Jaffna ( ta, சிவயோகசுவாமி, si, යොගස්වාමි; 1872–1964) was a 20th-century spiritual master, a ''śivajnani'' and a''natha siddhar'' revered by Hindus, however he had a n ...

- Hindu ascetic from Jaffna

Australia

Activists

Christie Jayaratnam Eliezer Christie Jayaratnam Eliezer ( ta, கிரிஸ்டி ஜெயரத்தினம் எலியேசர், translit=Kirisṭi Jeyarattiṉam Eliyēcar; 12 June 1918 – 10 March 2001) was a Ceylon Tamil mathematician, physicist an ...

- Professor of Mathematics in

University of Malaya The University of Malaya ( ms, Universiti Malaya, UM; abbreviated as UM or informally the Malayan University) is a public research university located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is the oldest and highest ranking Malaysian institution of highe ...

and

La Trobe University La Trobe University is a public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its main campus is located in the suburb of Bundoora. The university was established in 1964, becoming the third university in the state of Victoria an ...

in Australia; recipient of

Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...

Business people

* Maha Sinnathamby - property developer; the man behind Australia's largest real estate project; frequently listed in BRW's annual list of the 200 richest Australians

Singers

Kamahl Kandiah Kamalesvaran ( ta, கந்தையா கமலேஸ்வரன்; born 13 November 1934), better known by his stage name Kamahl, is a Malaysian-born Australian singer and recording artist. His highest charting Australian single, ...

(Kandiah Kamalesvaran) - singer *

Dhee ''Dhee'' () is a 2007 Indian Telugu-language action comedy film directed by Srinu Vytla and produced by Siri Venkateswara Films. The film stars Vishnu Manchu and Genelia D'Souza while Srihari and Brahmanandam play supporting roles. It was r ...

(Dheekshitha Venkadeshan) - singer

Canada

Academics

Alfred Jeyaratnam Wilson Alfred Jeyaratnam Wilson ( ta, அல்பிரட் ஜெயரத்தினம் வில்சன் 1928 – 31 May 2000) was a Sri Lankan Tamil academic, historian and author. He began his academic career as a lecturer in economics ...

- peacemaker, politician and author of books on Sri Lanka

Actors and directors

Rohan Fernando Rohan Fernando (also known as Cecil Fernando) is a Canadian visual artist, painter and film maker based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Fernando has directed two films for the National Film Board of Canada; ''Trudeau's Other Children'' and ''Cecil's J ...

- filmmaker born in Jaffna * Lenin M. Sivam - film director; directed the critically acclaimed film ''

1999 File:1999 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The funeral procession of King Hussein of Jordan in Amman; the 1999 İzmit earthquake kills over 17,000 people in Turkey; the Columbine High School massacre, one of the first major school shootin ...

'' *

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Maitreyi Ramakrishnan ( ; born 28 December 2001) is a Canadian actress. She is known for her leading role as Devi Vishwakumar in the Netflix teen comedy series ''Never Have I Ever'' (2020–present) and as Priya Mangal in the Pixar film ''Turni ...

- actress; ''Never Have I Ever'' *

Rajiv Surendra Rajiv Surendra is a Canadian actor, artist, content creator, and writer. He is known for his portrayal of high school student Kevin Gnapoor in the 2004 teen comedy film ''Mean Girls'' and for his 2016 memoir, ''The Elephants in My Backyard'', w ...

- actor, artist and author

Athletes and sports people

* Trevin Bastiampillai - Canadian cricketer *

Manoj David Ramesh Randeer "Manoj" David (born 8 February 1975) is a Sri Lankan-born cricketer who has played three One Day Internationals and four Twenty20 Internationals for Canada national cricket team, Canada. References External links

* 1975 ...

- Canadian cricketer * Arvind Kandappah - Canadian cricketer *

Sanjayan Thuraisingam Sanjayan Thuraisingam (born 11 September 1969) is a Tamil Canadian cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast bowling, fast medium bowler. Thuraisingam was Canada's top wicket-taker at the 2001 ICC Trophy and his 5 wickets f ...

- Canadian cricketer *

- Multiple Guinness World Record Holder

Authors, writers, poets and musicians

Shyam Selvadurai Shyam Selvadurai (born 12 February 1965) is a Sri Lankan Canadian novelist. He is most noted for his 1994 novel '' Funny Boy'', which won the Books in Canada First Novel Award and the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction.Paul Chafe"Shyam Selvadu ...

- author of ''Funny Boy'' and ''Cinnamon Gardens'' *

SJ Sindu SJ Sindu (born November 27, 1987) is a genderqueer Sri Lankan Americans, Sri Lankan American novelist and short story writer. Her first novel, ''Marriage of a Thousand Lies'', was released by Soho Press in June 2017, won the Edmund White Award, P ...

- author of ''

Marriage of a Thousand Lies ''Marriage of a Thousand Lies'' is a novel by Sri Lankan-American author SJ Sindu, published by Soho Press in 2017. It tells the story of Lucky and Kris, two gay South Asian-Americans whose parents immigrated from Sri Lanka, who marry to stay in t ...

,'' professor at

University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution ...

Scarborough

Politicians

Gary Anandasangaree Sathiyasangaree "Gary" Anandasangaree ( ta, சத்தியசங்கரி ஆனந்தசங்கரி) is a Sri Lankan Tamil Canadian lawyer, human rights activist and politician. He was elected to represent the riding of Scarborou ...

- MP for Scarborough-Rouge Park *

Vijay Thanigasalam Vijay Thanigasalam (born March 8, 1989) is a Canadian politician who has served as a member of Provincial Parliament since 2018, representing the riding of Scarborough—Rouge Park as a member of the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party. He ...

- MPP for Scarborough-Rouge Park *

Logan Kanapathi Logan Kanapathi is a Canadian politician who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario during the 2018 general election. He represents the riding of Markham—Thornhill, and is a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. ...

- MPP for Markham-Thornhill, former

Markham City Council The Markham City Council is the governing body of the city of Markham, Ontario, Canada. It consists of the mayor, eight councillors who each represent one of the city's eight wards, and four regional councillors who, along with the mayor, are electe ...

lor, first Tamil Canadian elected to political office (2006) *

Neethan Shan Neethan Shanmugarajah ( ta, நீதன் சண்முகராஜா, translit=Nītaṉ Caṇmukarājā; born December 24, 1978), is a Canadian politician who represented Ward 42 Scarborough—Rouge River on Toronto City Council from 2017 ...

- former

Toronto City Council Toronto City Council is the governing body of the municipal government of Toronto, Ontario. Meeting at Toronto City Hall, it comprises 25 city councillors and the mayor of Toronto. The current term began on November 15, 2022. Structure The cur ...

lor *

Rathika Sitsabaiesan Rathika Sitsabaiesan (; born December 23, 1981) is a Canadian former politician who was the member of Parliament (MP) for Scarborough—Rouge River from 2011 to 2015 as a member of the New Democratic Party (NDP). Sitsabaiesan is the first Tamil ...

- former Canadian politician from

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

; the New Democratic Party (NDP) Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Rouge River; the first Tamil elected to the Canadian Parliament

India

Actors and directors

* Poongkothai Chandrahasan - actress and Harvard-trained filmmaker *

- actor, producer, and singer *

Balu Mahendra Balanathan Benjamin Mahendran (19 May 1939 13 February 2014), commonly known as Balu Mahendra, was a Sri Lankan-born Indian cinematographer, director, screenwriter and film editor who worked predominantly in Tamil cinema. Widely regarded as ...

- prominent

Kollywood Tamil cinema, also known as Kollywood is a part of Indian Cinema; primarily engaged in production of motion pictures in the Tamil language. Based out of the Kodambakkam neighbourhood in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, it is popularly called ''Kollywood' ...

film director

Authors, writers, poets and artists

V. Kanakasabhai Visvanatha Kanakasabhai Pillai (1855–1906) was an Indian lawyer, historian and Dravidologist of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. He was the first person to attempt a chronology of ancient Tamil Nadu. He was also one of the first people to deduce the ...

- lawyer, historian and Dravidologist of Sri Lankan Tamil descent

Politicians

E. M. V. Naganathan Elangai Murugesu Vijayaretnam Naganathan ( ta, இலங்கை முருகேசு விஜயரத்தினம் நாகநாதன்; 31 January 1906 – 16 August 1971) was a Ceylon Tamil physician, politician, senator an ...

- one of the founders of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (Federal Party); Member of Parliament

Athletes

Anand Amritraj Anand Amritraj (Tamil: ஆனந்த் அம்ரித்ராஜ்; born 20 March 1951) is a former Indian tennis player and businessman. He along with brother Vijay Amritraj led India into the 1974 Davis Cup finals against South Afri ...

Malaysia

Academics

Shan Ratnam Emeritus Professor Sittampalam Shanmugaratnam (4 July 1928 – 6 August 2001), also known as Shan Ratnam, was a Singaporean obstetrician and gynaecologist. He was professor and head of the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the N ...

- professor and researcher

Athletes and sports people

Punch Gunalan Datuk Punch Gunalan (4 February 1944 – 15 August 2012) was a Malaysian badminton player, who achieved success in both singles and doubles competitions. Badminton career Gunalan was a talented right-hander who spent what might have been some ...

- former national badminton player and

IBF The International Boxing Federation (IBF) is one of four major organizations recognized by the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) which sanctions professional boxing bouts, alongside the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Counci ...

Executive Deputy President *

- former captain of the Malaysian cricket team * K. Gurusamy - Malaysian Footballer

Authors, writers, poets and artists

Rani Manicka Rani Manicka is a Malaysian-born novelist, who divides her time between Malaysia and the United Kingdom. Background, education Manicka grew up in Terengganu and attended the University of Malaysia, where she received a business degree. ''The R ...

- writer *

Manicasothy Saravanamuttu Manicasothy Saravanamuttu (died 1970) was a Sri Lankan journalist and diplomat in Malaya. He was the editor of '' The Straits Echo'', Penang (1931–1941), and was credited with 'saving' Penang during Japanese invasion in 1941. Early life He was b ...

- editor of ''The Straits Echo'' in Malaya (1931–1941); credited with 'saving' Penang during Japanese invasion in 1941; author of ''The Sara Saga''

Business people

Vijay Eswaran Vijay Eswaran (born 7 October 1960) is a Malaysian businessman and the executive chairman of the QI Group, headquartered in Hong Kong. Early life Eswaran was born in Penang, Malaysia to Penangite Indian parents of minority Ceylonese Tam ...

- Group MD; CEO of the QI Group of companies * Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam - executive chairman of Westport; ranked 29th in the 2007 ''Forbes Asia'' List of the 40 Richest Malaysians *

Ananda Krishnan Tatparanandam Ananda Krishnan (Tamil: த. ஆனந்தகிருஷ்ணன்) (born 1 April 1938) is a Malaysian-Tamil businessman, the Chairman of Usaha Tegas Sdn Bhd and founder of Yu Cai Foundation (YCF). Nicknamed A.K., he is es ...

- Malaysia's richest man and 62nd Richest Man in the world according to the 2009 ''Forbes'' Billionaire List * Bastianpillai Paul Nicholas - the first non-British businessman who endeavoured to become one of the top bankers in the then Malaya

Civil servants

* Tan Sri Dr Ramon Navaratnam - Malaysian economist

Politicians

* Tan Sri Devaki Krishnan - former politician *

Sivarasa Rasiah Sivarasa a/l Rasiah ( ta, சிவராசா ராசையா, Civarācā rācaiyā; born 8 December 1956), or also known as R. Sivarasa is a Malaysian politician, lawyer and human rights activist of Ceylonese and Sri Lankan descent w ...

- human rights lawyer and vice-president of the opposition

Parti Keadilan Rakyat The People's Justice Party ( ms, Parti Keadilan Rakyat , often known simply as KEADILAN or PKR) is a reformist political party in Malaysia, formed in 2003 by a merger of the National Justice Party and the older Malaysian People's Party. The ...

(People's Justice Party) *

D. R. Seenivasagam Darma Raja Seenivasagam ( Tamil: தார்ம ராஜா சீனிவசகம்) (1925, Ipoh - 15 March 1969, Ipoh) was a prominent leader of the People's Progressive Party (Malaysia) (PPP) which before 1959 was known as Perak Progre ...

- founder of People's Progressive Party in Malaysia * Datuk Dr S Vijayaratnam - former

Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia The Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia ( en, Malaysian People's Movement Party, commonly abbreviated as GERAKAN or less commonly as PGRM) is a liberal political party in Malaysia. Formed in 1968, Gerakan gained prominence in the 1969 general electio ...

Vice-president

Singapore

Academics

Philip Jeyaretnam Philip Antony Jeyaretnam (born 1964) is a Singaporean judge, lawyer and author who has been serving as a Judge of the High Court of Singapore since 1 November 2021, having been first appointed to the Bench as a Judicial Commissioner on 4 Januar ...

- professor of law; member of Public Service Commission *

- former Head of Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the National University of Singapore

Authors, writers, poets and artists

Edwin Thumboo Edwin Nadason Thumboo B.B.M. (born 22 November 1933) is a Singaporean poet and academic who is regarded as one of the pioneers of English literature in Singapore. Thumboo graduated in English from the University of Malaya in 1956. Although he ...

- poet

Civil servants

K. S. Rajah Kasinather Saunthararajah (3 March 1930 – 17 June 2010), known professionally as K. S. Rajah, was a Senior Counsel and Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court of Singapore. Born in Penang, he came to Singapore in 1950 and worked as a t ...

- former Supreme Court Judge

Politicians

Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam ( ta, ஜோசுவா பெஞ்சமின் ஜெயரத்தினம்; 5 January 1926 – 30 September 2008), better known as J. B. Jeyaretnam or by his initials JBJ, was a Singaporean politician, law ...

- former Solicitor General and perennial opposition politician of the

Workers' Party of Singapore The Workers' Party (abbreviation: WP) is a major centre-left political party in Singapore and is one of the three contemporary political parties represented in Parliament, alongside the governing People's Action Party (PAP) and opposition Progr ...

Sinnathamby Rajaratnam Sinnathamby Rajaratnam ( ta, சின்னத்தம்பி ராஜரத்னம்; 25 February 1915 – 22 February 2006), better known as S. Rajaratnam, was a Singaporean politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister of Singapo ...

- politician, deputy prime minister, one of the founding fathers of Singapore *

Tharman Shanmugaratnam Tharman Shanmugaratnam (Tamil: தர்மன் சண்முகரத்தினம்; born 25 February 1957) is a Singaporean politician and economist who has been serving as Senior Minister of Singapore since 2019 and has also been Co ...

- politician and deputy prime minister

United Kingdom

Academics

Ganesh Sittampalam Ganesh Sittampalam (born 11 February 1979) is a British computer specialist and former record holder youngest person to pass an A-Level. Sittampalam was born on 11 February 1979 in Croydon. He is the son of Arjuna Sittampalam, a Tamil, and Ne ...

Guinness World Record ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...

holder as the youngest person in the UK to pass an A-Level in 1988, aged only nine years and four months old at the time *

Sabaratnam Arulkumaran Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran is a Sri Lankan Tamil physician, former president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, and president-elect of the British Medical As ...

- is a Sri Lankan Tamil physician, former president of the

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) is a professional association based in London, United Kingdom. Its members, including people with and without medical degrees, work in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology, that is ...

and the

International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics The International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, usually just FIGO ("fee'go") as the acronym of its French name Fédération Internationale de Gynécologie et d'Obstétrique, is a worldwide non-governmental organisation representing ob ...

, and president-elect of the

British Medical Association The British Medical Association (BMA) is a registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The association's headquar ...

. * Maheshi N. Ramasamy - is a British-Sri Lankan physician and lecturer. She is currently working as one of the chief investigators at the

Oxford Vaccine Group The Oxford Vaccine Group (OVG) is a vaccine research group within the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Oxford. It was founded in 1994 by Professor E. Richard Moxon, was initially based at the John Radcliffe Hospital, and moved in ...

Activists

S. J. Emmanuel Reverend Father S. J. Emmanuel is a Sri Lankan Tamil Roman Catholicism in Sri Lanka, Catholic priest, activist and president of the Global Tamil Forum, an umbrella organisation for Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora groups. Early life Emmanuel was born ...

- priest, academic, and activist; President of the

Global Tamil Forum Global Tamil Forum (GTF) is an International Tamil organization meant to further Tamil causes in Tamil areas of Sri Lanka. GTF supports self-determination for Tamils and wants justice for war crimes against Tamils. It is headed by S. J. Emmanuel ...

; Vicar General of the Jaffna Diocese

Actors/actresses

Amara Karan Amara Karunakaran (born 1984), known professionally as Amara Karan, is an English actress who made her film début as Rita in Wes Anderson's ''The Darjeeling Limited''. The film premièred at the 2007 Venice Film Festival. Karan's second film ro ...

, British actress, whose parents moved to the UK from Zambia for work.

Athletes and sports people

Dimitri Mascarenhas Adrian Dimitri Mascarenhas (born 30 October 1977) is a former English cricketer. A right-handed batsman and right-arm medium-fast bowler, he played internationally for England, as well as domestically for Hampshire. He holds the record for most ...

- international cricketer, plays for England; born to Sri Lankan

Bharatakula Bharatha People (, ) also known as Bharatakula and Paravar, is an ethnicity in the island of Sri Lanka. Earlier considered a caste of the Sri Lankan Tamils, they got classified as separate ethnic group in the 2001 census. They are descendant of ...

Tamil parents in the UK, brought up in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

and the UK * Murugan Thiruchelvam - British child prodigy chess player

Comedians

Romesh Ranganathan Jonathan Romesh Ranganathan (born 27 March 1978), is an English actor and comedian. He is known for his deadpan and often self-deprecating comedy. Ranganathan has made numerous appearances on television comedy panel shows, and in 2016 he co-p ...

- British comedian and actor from

Crawley Crawley () is a large town and borough in West Sussex, England. It is south of London, north of Brighton and Hove, and north-east of the county town of Chichester. Crawley covers an area of and had a population of 106,597 at the time of th ...

Musicians and singers

* Arjun - recording artist, born to a Tamil father * M.I.A. (Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam) - British rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer *

Siva Kaneswaran Siva Michael Kaneswaran ( ta, சிவ மைக்கல் கணேசுவரன்) (born 16 November 1988) is an Irish singer best known for being a member of the boy band The Wanted. Early life Kaneswaran grew up in Corduff Blanchar ...

- member of the English-Irish boy band

The Wanted The Wanted are a British-Irish boy band consisting of group members Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness and Nathan Sykes and, until his death in 2022, Tom Parker (singer), Tom Parker. The group was formed in 2009 and signed a worldw ...

, born to a Tamil father *

Ashan Pillai Ashan Pillai ( born 1 December 1969 in Colombo, Sri Lanka) is a British violist. He was educated as a music and academic scholar at Merchant Taylors School, London and then at the Royal Academy of Music, London, the University of Southern Calif ...

- British violist and professor

Journalists and broadcasters

George Alagiah George Maxwell Alagiah ( born 22 November 1955) is a British newsreader, journalist and television news presenter. Since 3 December 2007, he has been the presenter of the ''BBC News at Six'' and was previously the main presenter of ''GMT'' on ...

reporter and journalist *

James Coomarasamy James Coomarasamy is a British presenter of the BBC Radio 4 evening programme ''The World Tonight'' and the flagship '' Newshour'' programme on the BBC World Service. Before joining ''Newshour'' in 2010, Coomarasamy spent a year presenting th ...

- BBC reporter and journalist *

Dharshini David Dharshini David is a British author, economist and broadcaster. After working at HSBC, BBC News and Tesco, she became a business correspondent and news presenter for Sky News in 2009. She returned to the BBC in 2018. Early life David was bo ...

- BBC reporter and journalist *

Tim Kash Tim Kash is a British television presenter best known for formerly presenting ''Top of the Pops'' in the United Kingdom, and '' MTV News'' on MTV UK and Ireland. He appeared on the U.S. edition of ''MTV News'', and as a presenter on E! Network's ...

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

and BBC reporter and journalist

Politicians

Thangam Debbonaire Thangam Elizabeth Rachel Debbonaire (' Singh; born 3 August 1966) is a British Labour Party politician, serving as Shadow Leader of the House of Commons since May 2021. She was previously the Shadow Secretary of State for Housing from 2020 t ...

- Labour Party MP, born to a mixed Indian-Sri Lankan Tamil father *

Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam is a British lawyer and civil servant who has served as Governor of Anguilla since 18 January 2021. She is the second female holder of the position after Christina Scott. On 15 December 2022, the Foreign, Commonwealt ...

Governor of Anguilla The Governor of Anguilla is the representative of the monarch in the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla. The Governor is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the British government. The Governor is the highest authority on Anguill ...

United States

Academics

Stanley Jeyaraja Tambiah Stanley Jeyaraja Tambiah (16 January 1929 – 19 January 2014) was a social anthropologist and Esther and Sidney Rabb Professor ''(Emeritus)'' of Anthropology at Harvard University. He specialised in studies of Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Tamils, a ...

- retired

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

professor of anthropology and author of several books

Business people

Kavichandran Alexander Kavichandran Alexander (born 3 May 1949) is an audio engineer and record producer. He is the founder of the American record label, Water Lily Acoustics. Alexander was the producer and engineer for the 1993 album ''A Meeting by the River'', fea ...

(Kavi Alexander) - owner of US record label

Water Lily Acoustics Water Lily Acoustics is an American record label in Santa Barbara, California founded in 1985 by Kavichandran Alexander, a Tamil from Sri Lanka. Alexander is a record producer and audio engineer. He named the label after his mother, Lily. The lab ...

; engineer; won 1993

Grammy The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...

Award for

Ry Cooder Ryland Peter "Ry" Cooder (born March 15, 1947) is an American musician, songwriter, film score composer, record producer, and writer. He is a multi-instrumentalist but is best known for his slide guitar work, his interest in traditional music, an ...

's album ''

A Meeting by the River ''A Meeting by the River'' is an album recorded by Ry Cooder and Vishwa Mohan Bhatt; it was recorded in September 1992 and released in April 1993 through the record label Water Lily Acoustics. This improvised, collaborative album features Cooder o ...

'' * Sanjay Kumar - former Chief Executive of

Computer Associates CA Technologies, formerly known as CA, Inc. and Computer Associates International, Inc., is an American multinational corporation headquartered in New York City. It is primarily known for its business-to-business (B2B) software with a product po ...

Kumar Mahadeva Wijeyaraj Kumar Mahadeva ( ta, குமார் மகாதேவா) is a Sri Lankan American businessman. He is the founder, and original chairman and chief executive officer (CEO), of Cognizant Technology Solutions. He was the CEO of Cogni ...

- former Chief Executive of

Cognizant Technology Solutions Cognizant is an American multinational information technology services and consulting company. It is headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey, United States. Cognizant is part of the NASDAQ-100 and trades under CTSH. It was founded as an in-hous ...

Raj Rajaratnam Rajakumaran Rajaratnam (born June 15, 1957) is a Sri Lankan-American former hedge fund manager and founder of the Galleon Group, a New York-based hedge fund management firm. On October 16, 2009, he was arrested by the FBI for insider trading ...

- hedge fund manager and the founder and Managing General Partner of The

Galleon Group The Galleon Group was one of the largest hedge fund management firms in the world, managing over $7 billion, before closing in October 2009. The firm was the center of a 2009 insider trading scandal which subsequently led to its fall. The firm wa ...

; on ''Forbes'' Richest Americans List

Musicians and singers

Clarence Jey Clarence Ranjith Jeyaretnam, better known as Clarence Jey, is an American record producer, multi-instrumentalist, composer and songwriter of Sri Lankan Tamil heritage who has had music chart on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, co-wrote the song "Fri ...

- songwriter and composer for US ''Late Night'' host

Jimmy Fallon James Thomas Fallon (born September 19, 1974) is an American comedian, television host, actor, and writer. He is known for his work in television as a cast member on ''Saturday Night Live'' and as the host of the late-night talk show ''The Ton ...

's 2013 Grammy-winning record ''

Blow Your Pants Off ''Blow Your Pants Off'' is the second album by the American actor and comedian Jimmy Fallon. It was released on June 12, 2012. It features guest appearances from Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake, Dave Matthews, Eddie Vedder, ...

''; songwriter and producer for Emmy-winning US TV animation series ''

Growing Up Creepie ''Growing Up Creepie'' is an animated television series created by Anthony Gaud, Chris Woods, and Carin Greenberg, and produced by Mike Young Productions. In other countries, the series was simply titled ''Creepie''. The series premiered on Septe ...

''; producer and songwriter for

Rebecca Black Rebecca Renee Black (born June 21, 1997) is an American singer and YouTuber. She gained extensive media coverage when the music video for her 2011 single "Friday" went viral on YouTube and other social media sites. "Friday" was derided by many ...

's viral hit song "Friday"

Politicians

* V. Rudrakumaran - Prime Minister of the

Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) is a transnational organisation among the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora which aims to establish Tamil Eelam, a secular and democratic socialist state which many Tamils aimed to create in the North-Eas ...

References

{{Portal bar, Sri Lanka, Tamils List Tamils, Sri Lankan Tamils, Sri Lankan

Sri Lankan Tamils Sri Lankan Tamils ( or ), also known as Ceylon Tamils or Eelam Tamils, are Tamils native to the South Asian island state of Sri Lanka. Today, they constitute a majority in the Northern Province, live in significant numbers in the Eastern Pro ...