Ratnasothy Saravanamuttu

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

Sir

Ratnasothy Saravanamuttu

MSC MMC
இரத்தினசோதி சரவணமுத்து
Member of the State Council of Ceylon
for Colombo North
In office
1931–1931
Succeeded byNaysum Saravanamuttu
1st Mayor of Colombo
In office
May 1937 – December 1937
Succeeded byV. R. Schockman
In office
January 1941 – December 1942
Preceded byA. E. Goonesinghe
Succeeded byGeorge R. de Silvs
Member of Colombo Municipal Council
In office
1937–1946
Personal details
BornOctober 1886
Alma materUniversity of Madras
ProfessionPhysician
EthnicityCeylon Tamil

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] After school he received 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).

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 for public services in the 1943 New Year Honours.[11]

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References
  1. Maniccavasagar, Chelvatamby (24 February 2012). "Colombo Municipal Council's 147th anniversary:". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
  2. 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. 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.
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