Punch Coomaraswamy

Coomaraswamy was the son of K.Coomaraswamy, a medical doctor serving the then Straits Settlements Medical Service from 1916 and retired in 1955.[3] He received his early education at the English College in Johor and later obtained his law degree from the University of Nottingham in England.[4]

Coomaraswamy worked in Braddell Brothers as a lawyer during 1960s. Between 1958 and 1960, he was appointed as the Honorary Secretary of Singapore Bar Council and was a visiting lecturer in University of Singapore (now National University of Singapore) between 1959 and 1969.[2] Between 1961 and 1969, he was a lecturer in Board of Legal Education, Singapore.[2][5]

In February 1966, he was appointed as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament and in August of the same year, he was appointed as the Speaker of Parliament.[2][6] He was the Acting President of Singapore between 5 March and 5 May 1968.[2][7] Dr Yeoh Ghim Seng took over as the Speaker of the Parliament in 1970.[7]

His first appointment with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was between January 1970 and July 1973 as the High Commissioner to India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh.[5][7] Between July 1973 and September 1976, he was the High Commissioner to Australia and Fiji and between October 1976 to August 1984, he was appointed as the Ambassador to United States and Brazil.[2][8][9][10]

He served as a Supreme Court judge between 7 September 1984[5][11] and October 1993.[2][4][12]

Coomaraswamy married Kaila and had 3 children from the marriage.[5] He died in his sleep on 8 January 1999 after a bout of lung problems.[2][13]

• 1946: Pacific War (1941 to 1945) Medal (United Kingdom)[2]
• 1976: Public Service Star Award[2][9]
• 1980: Meritorious Service Medal[2][14]

• A Tribute to Punch Coomaraswamy