G. G. Ponnambalam
Encyclopedia
Ganapathipillai Gangaser Ponnambalam (8 November 1901 – 9 December 1977), known as G.G. Ponnambalam, was a Sri Lankan Tamil politician in British Ceylon
, and then after independence, in Ceylon. He founded the first Sri Lankan Tamil political party, the All Ceylon Tamil Congress
. Ponnambalam stood for the principle of minority representation.
, his father Gangesar was a postmaster
from Alvai North
, Point Pedro
, and his mother was from Navali, Manipay
. He received his secondary education at St. Joseph's College, Colombo
, and then went to King's College London
on a scholarship
and graduated with a degree in the Natural Sciences. He went on to Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
, to study the Law Tripos
. GG graduated with a BA
in Law
and was subsequently called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn, London
.
He was an outstanding criminal defence attorney. In the famous Ranjani taxi cab murder case, the first finger print
case in Ceylon, he thoroughly demolished the testimony of Scotland Yard
's Inspector Godsell on cross-examination.
After his last (1956) term in parliament, he migrated to Malaysia and practiced law there until his death on 9 February 1977.
The Sri Lankan Government honored him by issuing a commemoration postage stamp on 22 May 1986.
He is the father of Gaasinather Gangaser 'Kumar' Ponnambalam, Vijayalakshmi Ponnambalam and grandfather and former TNA parliamentarian Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam
. Ponnambalam asked for a 50-50 representation in parliament
(50% for the Sinhalese, 50% for all other ethnic groups). This proposal was immediately rejected and rebuked by the British Governor General Lord Soulbury
as a "mockery of democracy
".
in 1934 from Point Pedro
.
In 1948 Ponnambalam joined the cabinet of D.S. Senanayake
of the UNP
, a move seen by some as an abandonment of his principles.
British Ceylon
British Ceylon refers to British rule prior to 1948 of the island territory now known as Sri Lanka.-From the Dutch to the British:Before the beginning of the Dutch governance, the island of Ceylon was divided between the Portuguese Empire and the Kingdom of Kandy, who were in the midst of a war for...
, and then after independence, in Ceylon. He founded the first Sri Lankan Tamil political party, the All Ceylon Tamil Congress
All Ceylon Tamil Congress
All Ceylon Tamil Congress , is the oldest Tamil political party in Sri Lanka.-History:The ACTC was founded in 1944 by G.G. Ponnambalam. Ponnambalam asked for a 50-50 representation in parliament...
. Ponnambalam stood for the principle of minority representation.
Personal history
G.G. Ponnambalam’s parents were both from the northernmost part of the island, Jaffna DistrictJaffna District
Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to...
, his father Gangesar was a postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
from Alvai North
Alvai
Alvai or Alvaay is a coastal village in Vadamaraadchi, northern Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka. It is located from the city of Jaffna or from the town of Point Pedro.Panai Munai , the northern most point of Sri Lanka, is in Alvai....
, Point Pedro
Point Pedro
Point Pedro is the northernmost town of the island of Sri Lanka. The agriculturally active area around Point Pedro with fertile calcic red latosols is known for its cotton production. The eastern coast of Point Pedro is a 3-mile-broad beach with huge sand dunes up to 100 feet height, extending...
, and his mother was from Navali, Manipay
Manipay
Manipay or Maanippaai is an affluent town in the northern Jaffna District of Sri Lanka. The original name of Manipay is Periya pulam. It was a mission location when the American Ceylon Mission came to Sri Lanka in the 19th century. Dr. Samuel Fisk Green founded the Green Memorial Hospital in 1864...
. He received his secondary education at St. Joseph's College, Colombo
St. Joseph's College, Colombo
St. Joseph's College is a Catholic educational institution in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was established in 1896 by French missionaries, with Rev Christopher Ernst Bonjean playing a leading role. The college has over 4000 students with a staff of over 200...
, and then went to King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
on a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
and graduated with a degree in the Natural Sciences. He went on to Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
Fitzwilliam College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Cambridge in England.The college traces its origins back to 1869 and the foundation of the Non-Collegiate Students Board, a venture intended to offer students from less financially privileged backgrounds a chance to study...
, to study the Law Tripos
Tripos
The University of Cambridge, England, divides the different kinds of honours bachelor's degree by Tripos , plural Triposes. The word has an obscure etymology, but may be traced to the three-legged stool candidates once used to sit on when taking oral examinations...
. GG graduated with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
and was subsequently called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn, London
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
.
He was an outstanding criminal defence attorney. In the famous Ranjani taxi cab murder case, the first finger print
Finger Print
Finger Print is a Malayalam language film. It was released in 2005....
case in Ceylon, he thoroughly demolished the testimony of Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard is a metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard entrance became...
's Inspector Godsell on cross-examination.
After his last (1956) term in parliament, he migrated to Malaysia and practiced law there until his death on 9 February 1977.
The Sri Lankan Government honored him by issuing a commemoration postage stamp on 22 May 1986.
He is the father of Gaasinather Gangaser 'Kumar' Ponnambalam, Vijayalakshmi Ponnambalam and grandfather and former TNA parliamentarian Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam
Political philosophy
Ponnambalam and his colleagues tried to establish fixed minority representation for the Tamils. They believed that without it, the minority Tamils would become second class citizens. For the opposing viewpoint see Solomon BandaranaikeSolomon Bandaranaike
Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike (Sinhala:සොලමන් වෙස්ට් රිජ්වේ ඩයස් බන්ඩාරනායක)(Tamil:சாலமன் வெஸ்ட் ரிச்சர்ட் டயஸ் பண்டாரநாயக்கா)Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike (Sinhala:සොලමන් වෙස්ට් රිජ්වේ ඩයස් බන්ඩාරනායක)(Tamil:சாலமன் வெஸ்ட் ரிச்சர்ட் டயஸ்...
. Ponnambalam asked for a 50-50 representation in parliament
Parliament of Sri Lanka
The Parliament of Sri Lanka is the 225-member unicameral legislature of Sri Lanka. The members of Parliament are elected by proportional representation for six-year terms, with universal suffrage. Parliament reserves the power to make all laws...
(50% for the Sinhalese, 50% for all other ethnic groups). This proposal was immediately rejected and rebuked by the British Governor General Lord Soulbury
Herwald Ramsbotham, 1st Viscount Soulbury
Herwald Ramsbotham, 1st Viscount Soulbury GCMG, GCVO, OBE, MC, PC was a British Conservative politician. He was a government minister between 1931 and 1941 and served as Governor-General of Ceylon between 1949 and 1954....
as a "mockery of democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
".
Political history
G.G. Ponnambalam entered the State Council of CeylonState Council of Ceylon
The State Council of Ceylon was the unicameral legislature for Ceylon , established in 1931 by the Donoughmore Constitution. The State Council gave universal adult franchise to the people of the colony for the first time...
in 1934 from Point Pedro
Point Pedro
Point Pedro is the northernmost town of the island of Sri Lanka. The agriculturally active area around Point Pedro with fertile calcic red latosols is known for its cotton production. The eastern coast of Point Pedro is a 3-mile-broad beach with huge sand dunes up to 100 feet height, extending...
.
In 1948 Ponnambalam joined the cabinet of D.S. Senanayake
Don Stephen Senanayake
Don Stephen Senanayake was an independence activist who served as the first Prime Minister of Ceylon from 1947 to 1952.-Early life:...
of the UNP
United National Party
The United National Party, often referred to as the UNP ), , is a political party in Sri Lanka. It currently is the main opposition party in Sri Lanka and is headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe...
, a move seen by some as an abandonment of his principles.