Sir Ratnasothy Saravanamuttu (Tamil: இரத்தினசோதி சரவணமுத்து; born October 1886) was a Ceylon Tamil physician, politician and the first Mayor of Colombo.

Early life and family

Saravanamuttu was born in October 1886.[1] He was the son of Vetharniam Saravanamuttu, a physician from Colombo in Ceylon.[2] His mother's family were from Vaddukoddai in northern Ceylon.[3] His paternal grandfather Vetharniam is reputed to be the founder of Chunnakam, a small town in northern Ceylon.[4] Saravanamuttu had five eminent brothers: Nanasothy, Tharmasothy, Paikiasothy, Manicasothy and Saptaranajyoti.[2] He was educated at S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia where he won many prizes.[1][2][4] He earned a Bachelor of Medicine, Master of Surgery degree (M.B.C.M.) from the University of Madras.[1][2] He then went to England where he obtained M.R.C.S. and Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians (L.R.C.P.) qualifications.[2]

Saravanamuttu married Naysum.[2] They had two daughters (Seetha and Chandra) and two sons (Vetharaniam and Ratnakumar).[citation needed]

Career

After returning to Ceylon Saravanamuttu established a dispensary in northern Colombo which soon grew to become a large medical centre.[2]

Saravanamuttu was a member of Colombo Municipal Council from May 1937 to December 1946.[5] He served as Mayor of Colombo from May 1937 to December 1937 and from January 1941 to December 1942.[6]

He contested the 1931 State Council election as a candidate in Colombo North and was elected to the State Council.[2][7] However, he was unseated after being found guilty of corrupt practices by an election Judge.[2][8] His wife, Naysum, was elected in the ensuing by-election, becoming the second female member of the State Council in 1931.[2][9]

He was a member of the Liberal League before founding the Independent Labour Party which was later absorbed by the Ceylon National Congress.[1][10] He played a major role in the relief following the Japanese bombing of Colombo in April 1942.[4]

Saravanamuttu received a knighthood as a Knight Bachelor for public services in the 1943 New Year Honours.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Maniccavasagar, Chelvatamby (24 February 2012). "Colombo Municipal Council's 147th anniversary". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Arumugam, S. (1997). Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon. pp. 181–182.
  3. ^ "He gave of his best, but died a disillusioned man". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 28 May 2000.
  4. ^ a b c Billimoria, Marc (13 August 2004). "The Saravanamuttu Prize at S. Thomas' College". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
  5. ^ Hulugalle, H. A. J. (September 1965). Centenary Volume of the Colombo Municipal Council (1865 - 1965). Colombo Municipal Council . p. 60.
  6. ^ Hulugalle, H. A. J. (September 1965). Centenary Volume of the Colombo Municipal Council (1865 - 1965). Colombo Municipal Council . p. 54.
  7. ^ Dissanayake, T. D. S. A. (2002). "Chapter 1: Was early universal franchise a disaster?". War or Peace in Sri Lanka.
  8. ^ LATEEF v. SARAVANAMUTTU.
  9. ^ The Struggle for Equal Political Representation of Women in Sri Lanka
  10. ^ Nissanka, Kamal (29 January 2012). "Liberal Party celebrates Silver Jubilee". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka).
  11. ^ "Second Supplement". The London Gazette: 2. 29 December 1942.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratnasothy_Saravanamuttu
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