Sam A. Sabapathy
Samuel Ariaretnam Sabapathy (6 September 1898 – 12 February 1964 ) was a Ceylon Tamil lawyer and the first Mayor of Jaffna.
Sam A. Sabapathy MMC | |
---|---|
சாம் அ. சபாபதி | |
1st Mayor of Jaffna | |
In office 6 January 1949 – 31 December 1949 | |
Succeeded by | K. Ponnambalam |
In office 11 January 1952 – 31 December 1955 | |
Preceded by | K. Ponnambalam |
Succeeded by | Kadhi. M. A. M. M. Sulthan |
Personal details | |
Born | 6 September 1898 |
Died | 12 February 1964 65) | (aged
Alma mater | St. John's College, Jaffna |
Profession | Lawyer |
Ethnicity | Ceylon Tamil |
Early life and family
Sabapathy was born on 6 September 1898.[1] He was the son of Kanagasabapathipillai from Varany and Annammah.[1] His brother S. Kulendran was Bishop of Jaffna.[1] Sabapathy was educated at St. John's College, Jaffna where he was head prefect, captain of the cricket team and member of the football team.[1]
Sabapathy married Kanakeswary, daughter of Nagalingam from Tholpuram.[1] They had a daughter (Padmini).[1]
Career
Sabapathy joined the legal profession after finishing his education, becoming a proctor specialising in criminal law.[1] He practised law in Jaffna.[1]
Sabapathy was elected to Jaffna Urban Council, serving as its chairman between 1937 and 1939.[1] Jaffna was given municipality status in 1949 and Sabapathy became the city's first mayor.[1][2] He is credited with creation of Jaffna Public Library, Subramaniam Park and Health Centre/Maternity Clinic.[1] Sabapathy laid the foundation stone for the library on 29 March 1953.[3][4]
Death
Sabapathy died on 12 February 1964.[1]
References
- Arumugam, S. (1997). Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon. pp. 169–170.
- "Past Mayors". Jaffna Municipal Council. Archived from the original on 2013-10-18.
- Thurairajah, V. S. (12 December 2002). "Jaffna Library rises from its ruins". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 10 March 2007.
- Palakidnar, Ananth (5 December 2004). "No shoes please". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 17 February 2015.