Arumugampillai Coomaraswamy (Tamil: ஆறுமுகம்பிள்ளை குமாரசுவாமி; 1783 – 7 November 1836) was a Ceylon Tamil member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon.

A. Coomaraswamy
ஆ. குமாரசுவாமி
Unofficial Member (Tamil),
Legislative Council of Ceylon
In office
1833–1836
Succeeded bySimon Casie Chetty
Personal details
Born1783
Garudavil, Ceylon
Died7 November 1836(1836-11-07) (aged 52–53)
EthnicityCeylon Tamil

Early life and family

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Coomaraswamy was born in 1783 in Garudavil near Point Pedro in northern Ceylon.[1] He was the son of Arumugampillai.[2]

Coomaraswamy married Visalachchi.[2] They had a son (Muthu Coomaraswamy) and a daughter (Sellachi). Coomaraswamy was the grandfather of four eminent Ceylon Tamils: Ananda Coomaraswamy, P. Coomaraswamy, P. Ramanathan and P. Arunachalam.[2][3]

Career

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Coomaraswamy was appointed Mudaliyar of the Governor's Gate in 1805.[2] He was personal officer to Governor Brownrigg between 1812 and 1822.[2] He also served governors Paget and Barnes.[2]

When the Legislative Council of Ceylon was established in 1833 Coomaraswamy was appointed as the unofficial member representing Tamils.[2][4]

Coomaraswamy died on 7 November 1836.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Vythilingam, M. (1971). The Life of Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan 1 (PDF). pp. 37–48.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Arumugam, S. (1997). Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon (PDF). pp. 40–41.
  3. ^ "He won the admiration, affection of all". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 1 February 1998.
  4. ^ "Senanayakes of Botale". The Island (Sri Lanka). 22 October 2000.
  5. ^ Muttucumaraswamy, V. (1992). Some Eminent Tamils (PDF). Department of Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs, Sri Lanka. p. 1.