K. W. Devanayagam

Deshamanya Kanapathipillai William "Bill" Devanayagam (26 March 1910 – 17 December 2002) was a Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer, politician, government minister and Member of Parliament.

Hon. Deshamanya

K. W. Devanayagam
க. வி. தேவநாயகம்
Minister of Justice
In office
1977–1980
Succeeded byNissanka Wijeratne
Minister of Home Affairs
Member of the Ceylonese Parliament
for Kalkudah
In office
1965–1989
Preceded byP. Manicavasagam
Personal details
Born(1910-03-26)26 March 1910
Died17 December 2002(2002-12-17) (aged 92)
Political partyUnited National Party
Alma materSt. Joseph's College, Colombo
Ceylon Law College
ProfessionLawyer
EthnicitySri Lankan Tamil
ReligionRoman Catholic

Early life

Devanayagam was born on 26 March 1910.[1] A Roman Catholic, Devanayagam was educated at St. Joseph's College, Colombo.[2][3] A keen sportsman, he captained the school's cricket team in 1930 and was the East Ceylon champion in tennis.[2][3] After school Devanayagam joined Ceylon Law College, qualifying as a proctor.[2]

Career

Devanayagam practised law in Kalkudah, Batticaloa District for many years.[2][3]

Devanayagam stood as an independent candidate for Kalkudah at the 1947 parliamentary election but was defeated by V. Nalliah.[4] He contested the 1965 parliamentary election as a United National Party candidate. He won the election and entered Parliament.[5] He was re-elected at the 1970 and 1977 parliamentary elections.[6][7] He was appointed Minister of Justice in July 1977.[8] He became Minister of Home Affairs in February 1980.[3][9]

Devanayagam died on 17 December 2002.[2][3]

References
  1. "Devanayagam, Kanapathipillai William". Parliament of Sri Lanka.
  2. "Ex-Justice Minister Devanayagam dies". The Island (Sri Lanka). 18 December 2002.
  3. Perera, Supun (23 January 2003). "K. W. Devanayagam - the gentle politician". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 13 May 2007.
  4. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1947" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-24.
  5. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1965" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-07-13.
  6. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1970" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-12-09.
  7. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1977" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-17.
  8. Rajasingham, K. T. "Chapter 25: War or peace?". Sri Lanka: The Untold Story.
  9. Rajasingham, K. T. "Chapter 27: Horsewhip Amirthalingham". Sri Lanka: The Untold Story.
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