The Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, we speak today in condolence of seven former Members who served the people in this Parliament. I first wish to speak about my friend of 50 years, the late M.K. Eelaventhan (Manickavasagar Kanagasabapathy Kanagendran).

¶ 02 Born on 14 September 1932 in Colombuthurai, Jaffna, the late Eelaventhan (birth name Manickavasagar Kanagasabapathy Kanagendran) was the eldest of five, with brothers Yogendra and Balendra and sisters Indirani and Vijayendrarani. He studied at Colombuthurai Mahavidyalayam, Jaffna Parameshwara College, and Wesley College, Colombo, excelling in Tamil and English. He joined the Central Bank’s Economic Research Department as a Tamil translator, rose to head the Tamil Translation Unit, and retired in 1980.

¶ 03 Out of love for Tamil, he adopted the pure Tamil name “Eelaventhan.” He married Arulambikai, daughter of Kailasapillai, former Chairman of Mandaitivu Village Council. In line with Tamil cultural pride, his wedding under the leadership of S.J.V. Chelvanayakam was conducted without Sanskrit chant, with recitation of Thirukkural; leaders including A. Amirthalingam attended. They had two daughters, Yaalini and Ezhilini.

¶ 04 He joined the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi in 1952, wrote political articles in the party paper “Suthanthiran” under the pen name “Eelaventhan,” and spoke at meetings under that name. He later led the Colombo branch of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF). The party office functioned from “Alfred House” on Galle Road, at the residence of S.J.V. Chelvanayakam, where after office hours he would go directly to do party work. His home in Kollupitiya was burned in the 1977 ethnic riots. In 1980 he left ITAK, helped form the Tamil Eelam Liberation Front and served as its Secretary, with the late Kovai Mahesan as leader. After the 1983 pogrom, he went to Tamil Nadu for safety and lived there until late 2000, after which he returned to Sri Lanka and, in 2004, entered Parliament via the TNA National List. His excellent speeches are recorded in the Hansard.

¶ 05 He frequently travelled to Canada, including as chief guest at the launch of “Sothida Purattu” by V. Thangavel (Nakkheeran). His erudite Tamil and English orations drew large audiences at political, social and Saivite religious fora. For not attending Parliament for over three months, his seat was declared vacant in November 2007.

¶ 06 A revolutionary, he never compromised on Tamil rights. He challenged not only Tamil leaders but also left leaders like N.M. Perera, Colvin R. de Silva and Pieter Keuneman — wherever they held meetings, he would go to question them, unafraid of place or circumstance. He often began speeches with lines from Tirumoolar and Appar, and carried a bag with his statements and articles to share with whomever he met. In Tamil Nadu he read the daily papers and issued rejoinders to set out the Tamil side, personally taking them to the editorial offices. He authored works in Tamil and English, including “Tamil Mann Kaappom,” “Thaayagam Enra Meedpom,” and “Thamizh Naayakar Adigalar,” and later, while in Canada, his speeches and articles were compiled as “Eelaventhanin Padhivugal.”

¶ 07 Tamil language, homeland, nation and self-rule were his lifelong themes. He met leaders from Indira Gandhi to M. Karunanidhi to advocate Sri Lankan Tamil rights. He passed away on 28 April 2024, aged 91, at the Trillium (Toronto) hospital. I extend condolences to his daughters Yaalini and Ezhilini, sons-in-law Prof. Arasendhiran, Mr. Sampathkumar and Mr. Tamilarasan, grandchildren Utthamasozhan, Thamizh Kaaveri and Pozhilan, and all relatives, on my behalf, on behalf of the people of Trincomalee, and on behalf of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi.

¶ 08 I also convey condolences to the families of the late Lohan Ratwatte, Heenmahattmaya Liyanage, Dixson J. Perera, (Dr.) Mervyn D. de Silva, Y.G. Padmasiri and R.M.R. Chula Bandara, and pray for their souls to attain peace. Thank you.