K. Balasingam
Kathiravetpillai Balasingam (Tamil: கதிரவேற்பிள்ளை பாலசிங்கம்; 23 June 1876 – 4 September 1952) was a Ceylon Tamil lawyer and member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon and Executive Council of Ceylon.
K. Balasingam MLC | |
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க. பாலசிங்கம் | |
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| Unofficial Member (Tamil), Legislative Council of Ceylon | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 June 1876 Udupiddy, Ceylon |
| Died | 4 September 1952 (aged 76) |
| Alma mater | Jaffna College Royal College, Colombo |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Ethnicity | Ceylon Tamil |
Early life and family
Balasingam was born on 23 June 1876 in Udupiddy in northern Ceylon.[1] He was the son of Kathiravetpillai.[1] Balasingam was educated at Jaffna College and Royal College, Colombo.[1]
Balasingam had a son (Cumaraswamy) and a daughter.[1]
Career
Balasingam joined the legal profession after finishing his education.[1] He practised law in Colombo and became a District Judge.[1]
Later life
After retirement Balasingam was appointed to the Legislative Council of Ceylon in 1914 as the second Tamil member.[1] He was appointed to the Executive Council of Ceylon in 1924.[1] He played a key role in the establishment of the College of Ayurvedic Medicine, Hospital of Indigenous Medicine, State Mortgage Bank, Judicial Services Commission and the Public Trustee's Department.[1] He was also one of the earliest proponents of diverting the waters of the Mahaweli River to assist farming.[1]
Balasingam died on 4 September 1952.[1] A 60 cents commemorative stamp honouring Balasingam was issued on 22 May 1984.[1]