M. Tiruchelvam
|
Senator M. Tiruchelvam KC |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Minister of Local Government | |
|
In office 1965–1968 |
|
| Succeeded by | Ranasinghe Premadasa |
| Solicitor General of Ceylon | |
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In office 1957–1960 |
|
| Preceded by | D. S. C. B. Jansze |
| Succeeded by | A. C. Alles |
| Member of the Senate of Ceylon | |
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In office 1965–1971 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
19 November 1907 Jaffna, British Ceylon |
| Died | 23 November 1976 (aged 69) |
| Political party | Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi |
| Other political affiliations |
Tamil United Liberation Front |
| Spouse(s) | Punitham |
| Children | Neelan, Rajendra, Janaki |
| Alma mater |
S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia Ceylon University College |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Murugeysen Tiruchelvam was a Sri Lankan Tamil politician, Member of the Senate, government minister and a leading lawyer.
Tiruchelvam was born on 19 November 1907 in Jaffna. When he was three-months old he and his mother went to British Malaya where his father Visvanathan Murugeysu, who hailed from Vaddukoddai, was Head of the Telegraph Office, an officer in the British colonial administration, in Kuala Lumpur. The Tiruchelvam family were friends of the Chelvanayakam family who were also living in Malaya. Tiruchelvam had three brothers and a sister. Tiruchelvam and his brother Rajendra were sent to British Ceylon to have their education at S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia. S. J. V. Chelvanayakam was the brothers' guardian. Tiruchelvam later studied at Ceylon University College, obtaining an honours degree in History.
Tiruchelvam married Punithavathy (Punitham) Canagaratnam. They had four children: Neelan Tiruchelvam, Rajendra, Janaki.
After graduating Tiruchelvam studied law and became a lawyer in 1935 when he started practicing law. He served as the magistrate in Negombo, Panadura and Galle till 1945. He was appointed Assistant to the Legal Secretary to the then Legal Secretary Sir Alan Rose. He assisted Sir Alan in drafting the Soulbury Constitution. Tiruchelvam was appointed Deputy Solicitor-General in 1944. He was appointed Solicitor General of Ceylon in 1957, a position he held until 1960.
Tiruchelvam took part in a number of high-profile legal cases. He was one of the defence lawyers in the 1976 Trial-At-Bar of Appapillai Amirthalingam, K. P. Ratnam, Murugesu Sivasithamparam and Kathiripillai Thurairatnam, four leading TULF politicians who were charged with sedition for defying the First Republican Constitution. 72 Tamil lawyers took part in the defence, including S. J. V. Chelvanayakam and G. G. Ponnambalam, two leading lawyer-politicians. All the defendants were acquitted.
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