A. Amirthalingam
National List | |
|---|---|
| In office 1989–1989 | |
| Succeeded by | Mavai Senathirajah, TULF |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 August 1927 Pannagam, Sri Lankan Tamil |
| Website | amirthalingam.com |
Appapillai Amirthalingam (
Early life
Amirthalingam was born 26 August 1927 in Pannagam near
Amirthalingam married Mangaiyarkarasi, daughter of Vallipuram. They had two sons - Kandeepan and Baheerathan.
Political career
Amirthalingam joined the newly formed
In 1972 the ITAK, ACTC and others formed the
Amirthalingam was the TULF's candidate for Kankesanthurai at the 1977 parliamentary election. He won the election and re-entered Parliament.[8] The TULF became the largest opposition party in Parliament and Amirthalingam became Leader of the Opposition.[9]
Amirthalingam and all other TULF MPs boycotted Parliament from the middle of 1983 for a number of reasons: they were under pressure from Sri Lankan Tamil militants not to stay in Parliament beyond their normal six-year term; the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka required them to swear an oath unconditionally renouncing support for a separate state; and the Black July riots in which up to 3,000 Tamils were murdered by Sinhalese mobs. After three months of absence, Amirthalingam forfeited his seat in Parliament on 22 October 1983.[10]
Amirthalingam and his family, like many families of leading Tamil politicians, fled to
Amirthalingam was one of the TULF's candidates in
Assassination
In effort to bring about unity amongst the Tamils, Yogeswaran made contact with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and met with them several times. He arranged a meeting between the Tamil Tigers and the TULF leaders at their Bullers Road residence. On the evening of 13 July 1989 three men, Peter Aloysius Leon (Vigna), Rasiah Aravindarajah (Visu) and Sivakumar (Arivu), arrived at the residence. Aloysius and Visu went inside the house whilst Sivakumar remained outside. The two men met with Yogeswaran, Amirthalingam and Sivasithamparam in Yogeswaran's apartment on the first floor. The meeting seemed to be going well when suddenly Visu pulled out a gun and shot Amirthalingam in the head and chest. Yogeswaran stood up but was shot by Aloysius and Visu. Security guards heard the shots and rushed in, shooting the assailants who were injured. The assailants shot Sivasithamparam in the shoulder before running downstairs. They were chased and shot dead by the security guards. Sivakumar was also shot and died later of his injuries. Amirthalingam and Yogeswaran were killed but Sivasithamparam survived. The Tamil Tigers initially denied responsibility for the assassinations but later accepted responsibility.
Further reading
- S Venkat Narayan (15 December 1983). "President Jayewardene is stronger than many people think: A. Amirthalingam". India Today.
See also
References
- Arumugam, S. (1997). Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon. pp. 5–6.
- "Brief History". A. Amirthalingam: Life and Struggle. Archived from the original on 2 May 2011.
- ^ D. B. S. Jeyaraj (16 March 2008). "Assassinating Tamil Parliamentarians: The unceasing waves". The Nation, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
- ^ Rajasingham, K. T. "Chapter 39: Amirthalingham eliminated". SRI LANKA: THE UNTOLD STORY. Archived from the original on 15 May 2002.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ 1952 Parliamentary Elections Results[permanent dead link] Official Website, Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
- ^ 1956 Parliamentary Elections Results[permanent dead link] Official Website, Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
- ^ 1960 (March) Parliamentary Elections Results[permanent dead link] Official Website, Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
- ^ 1960 (July) Parliamentary Elections Results[permanent dead link] Official Website, Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
- ^ 1970 Parliamentary Elections Results[permanent dead link]. Official Website, Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
- ^ 1977 Parliamentary Elections Results[permanent dead link]. Official Website, Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
- ^ "Leaders of the Opposition". Handbook of Parliament. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 12 November 2011.
- ^ Wickramasinghe, Wimal (18 January 2008). "Saga of crossovers, expulsions and resignations etc. Referendum for extention [sic] of Parliament". The Island, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
