Ratnasothy Saravanamuttu | |
---|---|
இரத்தினசோதி சரவணமுத்து | |
Member of the
State Council of Ceylon for Colombo North | |
In office 1931–1931 | |
Succeeded by | Naysum Saravanamuttu |
1st Mayor of Colombo | |
In office May 1937 – December 1937 | |
Succeeded by | V. R. Schockman |
In office January 1941 – December 1942 | |
Preceded by | A. E. Goonesinghe |
Succeeded by | George R. de Silvs |
Member of Colombo Municipal Council | |
In office 1937–1946 | |
Personal details | |
Born | October 1886 |
Spouse | Naysum Saravanamuttu |
Children | 4 |
Alma mater | University of Madras |
Profession | Physician, politician |
Ethnicity | Ceylon Tamil |
Sir Ratnasothy Saravanamuttu ( Tamil: இரத்தினசோதி சரவணமுத்து; born October 1886) was a Ceylon Tamil physician, politician and the first Mayor of Colombo.
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]
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]