Manicasothy Saravanamuttu
Encyclopedia
Manicasothy Saravanamuttu (died 1970) was a Sri Lankan journalist and diplomat in Malaya. He was the editor of The Straits Echo, Penang (1931–1941), and was credited with 'saving' Penang during Japanese invasion in 1941.
family in Ceylon (later Sri Lanka
). Manicasothy and his brothers went to St. Thomas' College, Colombo, where they distinguished themselves as cricket players. He won a scholarship to study at St. John's College, Oxford
. His father Dr. Saravanamuttu was the family doctor to the young S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike
, who later became Prime Minister of Ceylon. Manicasothy's eldest brother, Ratnajothi, later known as Sir Ratnasothy Saravanamuttu, was a medical practitioner who became the first elected Mayor of Colombo
. He was knighted for staying at his post when the Japanese bombed Colombo
on Easter Sunday 1942 and reorganising the public services when the port area was evacuated in the panic that followed the bombing. His fourth brother Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu or P. Sara was Rubber and Tea Controller during the Second World War. He served as president of the Ceylon Cricket Association for about 14 years and the Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium, also known as the P Sara Oval or Colombo Oval, was named after him.
in December 1941, bombs were dropped on Penang. As the British had evacuated, Manicasothy took charge of raising the white flag at Fort Cornwallis
, thus declaring Penang an 'open city'. He was accompanied by Harold Speldewinde and Gopal, who climbed the flagpole to take the flag down. He became chairman of the Penang Service Committee which had its headquarters at 10 Scott Road. He pressed the Penang Volunteers, who had been left behind with arms, into service to act as Volunteer Police; this was made up largely of the Eurasian Volunteer Company under Capt. Willweber and the Chinese Company. Manicasothy gave orders for saving the rice, clearing away the dead, safeguarding and issuing petrol, and forming the guards to preserve order and prevent looting. For all this, Manicasothy became known as the man who 'saved' Penang at the outbreak of the Japanese invasion. He was interned during the Japanese Occupation.
and Malaya
(1950–1957), Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to Indonesia
(1954–1957) during which time he was involved in organising the Asian-African Conference
, better known as the Bandung Conference, in 1955 and Honorary Consul-General in Bangkok
(1958–61).
, a well-known journalist, author, human rights activist and actor, was abducted and killed in 1990. In Penang, Manicasothy had two sons Manicam and Jayaratnam who is better known as Dr. Johan Saravanamuttu.
and Malayan independence.
Early life
He was born into a prominent Jaffna TamilJaffna Tamil
Jaffna Tamil could mean*Jaffna Tamil person of Jaffna, in Sri Lanka origin.*Jaffna Tamil dialect used by a person of Jaffna Tamil origin...
family in Ceylon (later Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
). Manicasothy and his brothers went to St. Thomas' College, Colombo, where they distinguished themselves as cricket players. He won a scholarship to study at St. John's College, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. His father Dr. Saravanamuttu was the family doctor to the young S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike
Bandaranaike
Bandaranaike might be one of the following people:*Solomon Dias Bandaranaike, Head Mudaliyar to the Governor of Ceylon*S. W. R. D...
, who later became Prime Minister of Ceylon. Manicasothy's eldest brother, Ratnajothi, later known as Sir Ratnasothy Saravanamuttu, was a medical practitioner who became the first elected Mayor of Colombo
Mayor of Colombo
The Mayor of Colombo is the Mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council. The post was created in 1866 when the Colombo Municipal Council established by the Legislative Council of Ceylon. The officers of the mayor are at the Colombo Town Hall. The mayors legal title is His worship the Mayor of...
. He was knighted for staying at his post when the Japanese bombed Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
on Easter Sunday 1942 and reorganising the public services when the port area was evacuated in the panic that followed the bombing. His fourth brother Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu or P. Sara was Rubber and Tea Controller during the Second World War. He served as president of the Ceylon Cricket Association for about 14 years and the Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium, also known as the P Sara Oval or Colombo Oval, was named after him.
Journalist in Penang
Manicasothy Saravanamuttu was editor of an independent Penang newspaper The Straits Echo (1931–41) and managing editor of North Malayan Newspapers.Japanese Occupation
During the Japanese invasion of MalayaJapanese Invasion of Malaya
The Japanese Invasion of Malaya, or Battle of Kota Bharu, began just after midnight on 8 December 1941 before the attack on Pearl Harbor...
in December 1941, bombs were dropped on Penang. As the British had evacuated, Manicasothy took charge of raising the white flag at Fort Cornwallis
Fort Cornwallis
Fort Cornwallis is an old star-shaped fort located on the northeastern coast of Penang, Malaysia. It is named after the late 18th century Governor-General of Bengal, India, Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis...
, thus declaring Penang an 'open city'. He was accompanied by Harold Speldewinde and Gopal, who climbed the flagpole to take the flag down. He became chairman of the Penang Service Committee which had its headquarters at 10 Scott Road. He pressed the Penang Volunteers, who had been left behind with arms, into service to act as Volunteer Police; this was made up largely of the Eurasian Volunteer Company under Capt. Willweber and the Chinese Company. Manicasothy gave orders for saving the rice, clearing away the dead, safeguarding and issuing petrol, and forming the guards to preserve order and prevent looting. For all this, Manicasothy became known as the man who 'saved' Penang at the outbreak of the Japanese invasion. He was interned during the Japanese Occupation.
Diplomat
Manicasothy served as Ceylon's Commissioner in SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and Malaya
Malaya
-Geographic/former political entities:* The Malay Peninsula* Malay Archipelago, the broader macroregion.-Malaya including Singapore:* British Malaya , a loose collection of British-controlled states...
(1950–1957), Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
(1954–1957) during which time he was involved in organising the Asian-African Conference
Asian-African Conference
The first large-scale Asian–African or Afro–Asian Conference—also known as the Bandung Conference—was a meeting of Asian and African states, most of which were newly independent, which took place on April 18–24, 1955 in Bandung, Indonesia...
, better known as the Bandung Conference, in 1955 and Honorary Consul-General in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
(1958–61).
Family
Manicasothy was known as Mr Saravanamuttu, 'Sara' or 'Uncle Sara'. In Sri Lanka, he had a son Lakshman and a daughter Manorani. Dr. Manorani Saravanamuttu (died 2001) founded the Centre for Family Service (CFS) in Sri Lanka after her son Richard Manic de ZoysaRichard de Zoysa
Richard de Zoysa was a well-known Sri Lankan journalist, author, human rights activist and actor, who was abducted and murdered on February 18, 1990. His murder caused widespread outrage inside the country, and is widely believed to have been carried out by a death squad linked to elements within...
, a well-known journalist, author, human rights activist and actor, was abducted and killed in 1990. In Penang, Manicasothy had two sons Manicam and Jayaratnam who is better known as Dr. Johan Saravanamuttu.
Memoirs
Manicasothy's memoirs entitled The Sara Saga, with a foreword written by Malcolm McDonald, were originally published in 1970. They were dedicated to his grandson Richard Manic. The memoirs contain Manicasothy's recollections of Tunku Abdul RahmanTunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, AC, CH was Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya from 1955, and the country's first Prime Minister from independence in 1957. He remained as the Prime Minister after Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore joined the...
and Malayan independence.