The Ponnambalam–Coomaraswamy family () is a

Sri Lankan Tamil 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 ...

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

family that was prominent in politics in former

British Ceylon British Ceylon ( si, බ්‍රිතාන්‍ය ලංකාව, Britānya Laṃkāva; ta, பிரித்தானிய இலங்கை, Biritthāṉiya Ilaṅkai) was the British Crown colony of present-day Sri Lanka between ...

and later

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 ...

from the colonial era to 1972. Many members received imperial honours such as knighthood by the

British Crown The Crown is the state (polity), state in all its aspects within the jurisprudence of the Commonwealth realms and their subdivisions (such as the Crown Dependencies, British Overseas Territories, overseas territories, Provinces and territorie ...

History

The Ponnambalam–Coomaraswamy family are mainly from

Manipay Manipay or Maanippaai ( ta, மானிப்பாய்) is an affluent town in the northern Jaffna District of Sri Lanka. The original name of Manipay is Periyapulam. It was a mission location when the American Ceylon Mission (ACM) came to S ...

, Jaffna and were of the

Sri Lankan Vellalar Lankan Vellalar () is a caste in Sri Lanka, predominantly found in the Jaffna peninsula and adjacent Vanni region, who comprise about half of the Sri Lankan Tamil population. They were traditionally involved in agriculture, but also included me ...

caste. They have been politically active since 18th century, with many having posts such as

Mudaliyars Thuluva Vellalar (Thondamandala Tuluva Vellalar), also known as Agamudaya Mudaliars and Arcot Mudaliars, is a caste found in northern Tamil Nadu, southern Andhra Pradesh and southern Karnataka, India. They were originally significant lando ...

, a title for Ceylonese officials used under the Colony governments of Ceylon. Arumuganathapillai Coomaraswamy, one of the earliest known member of the family was a Gate Mudaliyar, second highest Mudaliyar position. Arumuganathapillai rendered service to the British under the Kandyan Wars, in their attempt to gain control over the

Kandy Kingdom The Kingdom of Kandy was a monarchy on the island of Sri Lanka, located in the central and eastern portion of the island. It was founded in the late 15th century and endured until the early 19th century. Initially a client kingdom of the Kin ...

. The family have also made noteworthy contributions. Ponnambalam Ramanathan founded the Parameshwara College, which was later used by Sri Lankan government to establish the

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

. Sri Ponnambalam Vaneswarar Temple located in Colombo is also credited to be founded by the family. Sri Kurinji Easware temple is a temple located in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu is credited to have been built by a European woman,

Leelawathy Ramanathan Tirumati Leelawathy Ramanathan (née R. L. Harrison in 1870) was the Australia-born wife of Ponnambalam Ramanathan of the Ponnambalam-Coomaraswamy family. Lady Ramanathan was an Englishwoman who was born in Australia where her father was involved ...

, the wife of Ponnambalam Ramanathan. Furthermore, have some of the family members contributed to literature. Ananda Coomaraswamy was a

metaphysician Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that studies the fundamental nature of reality, the first principles of being, identity and change, space and time, causality, necessity, and possibility. It includes questions about the nature of conscio ...

and aesthetician, who widely contributed to bringing Indian art to the Western world and has contributed with many books on traditional Indian and Sinhalese art.

Notable members of the family

Arumugampillai 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 ...

(1783-1836), Gate Mudaliyar, Member of Legislative Council ** Sir Muthu Coomaraswamy CCS FRGS (1833-1879), Member of Legislative Council + Elizabeth Clay Beebe *** Ananda Coomaraswamy (1877-1947) **** Narada Coomaraswamy ** Sellachchi Coomaraswamy + Arunachalam Ponnambalam (1814-1887), Mudaliyar of the Governor's Gate *** P. Coomaraswamy (1849-1906), Member of Legislative Council *** Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan KCMG QC (1851-1930), Solicitor General of British Ceylon, Member of Legislative Council +

(1870-1953) **** Sivagamasundari + S. Natesan, Member of Parliament, Member of State Council, Senator *** Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam KCMG CCS (1853-1924), Member of

Executive Council Executive Council may refer to: Government * Executive Council (Commonwealth countries), a constitutional organ that exercises executive power and advises the governor * Executive Council of Bern, the government of the Swiss canton of Bern * Ex ...

, Member of Legislative Council + Swarnambal Namasivayam **** Arunachalam Padmanabha **** Sir

Arunachalam Mahadeva Arunachalam Mahadeva, KCMG ( ta, அருணாசலம் மகாதேவா, translit=Aruṇācalam Makātēvā; 5 October 1885 – 15 April 1966) was a Ceylon Tamil lawyer, politician and diplomat. He served as Minister of Home Affairs ...

KCMG (1888-1969), Government Minister, Member of Legislative Council, Member of State Council, High Commissioner to India ***** Balakumar

Baku Mahadeva Deshamanya Balakumara Mahadeva ( ta, பாலகுமாரன் மகாதேவா; 29 October 1921 – 29 November 2013; commonly known as Baku Mahadeva) was a leading Sri Lankan Tamil civil servant. Early life and family Mahadeva was ...

****** Kumar Mahadeva **** Arunachalam Ramanathan **** Pathmavathy Arunachalam + Sir

S. Pararajasingam Sir Sangarapillai Pararajasingam was a Ceylonese landed proprietor and member of the Senate of Ceylon. Early life and family Pararajasingam was born on 25 June 1896. He was the son of A. V. Sangarapillai, founder of Manipay Hindu College. Parar ...

, Senator ***** Pararajasingham Nadesan ***** Lalithambikai (-2005) + M. Swaminathan ******

D. M. Swaminathan Deva Manoharan Swaminathan ( ta, தேவ மனோகரன் சுவாமிநாதன், si, දේවා මනෝහරන් ස්වාමිනාදන්; born 30 April 1945) is a Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer, politician and ex cab ...

(1945-), Member of Parliament, Governor of Western Province

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ponnambalam-Coomaraswamy family

History

Notable members of the family

See also

References