Visvanathan Dharmalingam
Encyclopedia
Visvanathan Dharmalingam (also spelt Tharmalingam) was a Sri Lankan Tamil politician and Member of Parliament
.
, and St. Patrick's College, Jaffna. He later entered Ceylon Law College but gave up his legal studies to enter politics.
Dharmalingam's son Siddhartan is the leader of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam
, pro-government paramilitary group and political party.
(Federal Party). He was ITAK's candidate for Uduvil
at the March 1960 parliamentary election. He won the election and entered Parliament
. He was re-elected at the July 1960, March 1965 and May 1970 parliamentary elections.
In 1972 the ITAK, All Ceylon Tamil Congress
and others formed the Tamil United Front (later renamed Tamil United Liberation Front
). Dharmalingam was the TULF's candidate in Manipay (the new name of the Uduvil electoral district) at the 1977 parliamentary election
which he won. Dharmalingam 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, Dharmalingam forfeited his seat in Parliament on 8 October 1983.
, at Kalliyankadu, Nallur
and kidnapped him at gun point. They took Alalasundaram in a car and drove to Uduvil
where Dharmalingam was attending a wedding. The men then kidnapped Dharmalingam as well. The next day Alalasundaram's body was found in a scrub jungle near his home at Kalliyankadu with bullet wounds in the chest and arm. Dharmalingam's body was found at a cemetery in Thavady
, Manipay
, with a bullet wound in the forehead.
No one claimed responsibility for the murders. Dharmalingam's son Siddhartan, who is a member of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam
militant group, blamed one of the members of Eelam National Liberation Front
for the murders (PLOTE wasn't a member of ENLF). The Sri Lankan government blamed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
for the murders. It is now widely believed that the murders were carried out by Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization
, an Indian backed militant group, on the orders of the Research and Analysis Wing
, the Indian intelligence agency.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
.
Early life
Dharmalingam was born on 5 February 1918. He was educated at Skandavarodaya College, ChunnakamChunnakam
Chunnakam is a one of the big towns located six miles north of the city of Jaffna. It is one of the important commercial centers in Jaffna. The original name of Chunnakam is Mayilani....
, and St. Patrick's College, Jaffna. He later entered Ceylon Law College but gave up his legal studies to enter politics.
Dharmalingam's son Siddhartan is the leader of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam
People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam
The People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam is a former Tamil militant group. It is currently a pro-government paramilitary group and political party. PLOTE's political wing is known as the Democratic People's Liberation Front.-Origins:...
, pro-government paramilitary group and political party.
Political career
Dharmalingam was elected to Uduvil Village Council in 1944, later becoming its chairman. Although a leftist he joined the Illankai Tamil Arasu KachchiIllankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi
Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi is a Sri Lankan political party which represents the Sri Lankan Tamil ethnic minority in the country. It was originally formed in 1949 as breakaway faction of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress...
(Federal Party). He was ITAK's candidate for Uduvil
Uduvil Electoral District
Uduvil Electoral District was an electoral district of Sri Lanka between March 1960 and February 1989. The district was renamed Manipay Electoral District in July 1977. The district was named after the towns of Uduvil and Manipay in Jaffna District, Northern Province...
at the March 1960 parliamentary election. He won the election and entered Parliament
Parliament of Ceylon
The Parliament of Ceylon was the legislative body of Ceylon established in 1947 by the Soulbury Constitution, prior to independence on 4 February 1948...
. He was re-elected at the July 1960, March 1965 and May 1970 parliamentary elections.
In 1972 the ITAK, All Ceylon Tamil Congress
All Ceylon Tamil Congress
All Ceylon Tamil Congress , is the oldest Tamil political party in Sri Lanka.-History:The ACTC was founded in 1944 by G.G. Ponnambalam. Ponnambalam asked for a 50-50 representation in parliament...
and others formed the Tamil United Front (later renamed Tamil United Liberation Front
Tamil United Liberation Front
The Tamil United Liberation Front is a political party in Sri Lanka which seeks independence for the Tamil-populated areas of Sri Lanka.-Formation:...
). Dharmalingam was the TULF's candidate in Manipay (the new name of the Uduvil electoral district) at the 1977 parliamentary election
Sri Lankan parliamentary election, 1977
The 1977 Sri Lankan election heralded the beginning of a new period of Sri Lanka's history - a period of unprecedented violence.-Background:Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike had become extraordinarily unpopular. Her economic policies had led to industrial growth and self-reliance, but was...
which he won. Dharmalingam 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
Sri Lankan Tamil militant groups
Sri Lankan Tamil militant groups rose to prominence in the 1970s to fight the state of Sri Lanka in order to create an independent Tamil Eelam in the north of Sri Lanka. They rose in response to the perception amongst minority Sri Lankan Tamils that the state was preferring the majority Sinhalese...
not to stay in Parliament beyond their normal six-year term; the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka
Constitution of Sri Lanka
The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka has been the constitution of the island nation of Sri Lanka since its original promulgation by the National State Assembly on 7 September 1978. It is Sri Lanka's second republican constitution, and its third constitution since the...
required them to swear an oath unconditionally renouncing support for a separate state
Tamil Eelam
Tamil Eelam , is the name given by certain Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora to the independent state which they aspire to create in the north and east of Sri Lanka. Tamil Eelam has no official status or recognition by any other state or authority...
; and the Black July
Black July
Black July is the commonly used name for the anti-Tamil pogrom and attacks carried out by mobs in Sri Lanka which began on July 23, 1983. The riots occurred following a deadly ambush by a Tamil militant organization known as Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam which killed 13 Sri Lanka Army soldiers...
riots in which up to 3,000 Tamils were murdered by Sinhalese
Sinhalese people
The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the...
mobs. After three months of absence, Dharmalingam forfeited his seat in Parliament on 8 October 1983.
Assassination
On the night of 2/3 September 1985 two men went to the house of Murugesu Alalasundaram, MP for KopayKopay Electoral District
Kopay Electoral District was an electoral district of Sri Lanka between August 1947 and February 1989. The district was named after the town of Kopay in Jaffna District, Northern Province. The 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka introduced the proportional representation electoral system for electing...
, at Kalliyankadu, Nallur
Nallur (Jaffna)
Nallur , , is a small holy town within the present day city of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. It is located 3 km away from the colour and bustle of Jaffna Town. Originally known by its Royal term "Singai Nagar", Nallur formerly functioned as the capital of the ancient Jaffna kingdom for many years during...
and kidnapped him at gun point. They took Alalasundaram in a car and drove to Uduvil
Uduvil
Uduvil is an agricultural village of about 32.7 square kilometers situated along the KKS Road at about five miles to the North of Jaffna city, Sri Lanka. It is surrounded by the villages Chunnaakam, Kantharoodai, Sanguveeli, Maanippaay, Suthumalai and Inuvil...
where Dharmalingam was attending a wedding. The men then kidnapped Dharmalingam as well. The next day Alalasundaram's body was found in a scrub jungle near his home at Kalliyankadu with bullet wounds in the chest and arm. Dharmalingam's body was found at a cemetery in Thavady
Thavady
Thavady is a small village in Jaffna in Northern Sri Lanka. The area is populated by people who speak Tamil....
, Manipay
Manipay
Manipay or Maanippaai is an affluent town in the northern Jaffna District of Sri Lanka. The original name of Manipay is Periya pulam. It was a mission location when the American Ceylon Mission came to Sri Lanka in the 19th century. Dr. Samuel Fisk Green founded the Green Memorial Hospital in 1864...
, with a bullet wound in the forehead.
No one claimed responsibility for the murders. Dharmalingam's son Siddhartan, who is a member of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam
People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam
The People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam is a former Tamil militant group. It is currently a pro-government paramilitary group and political party. PLOTE's political wing is known as the Democratic People's Liberation Front.-Origins:...
militant group, blamed one of the members of Eelam National Liberation Front
Eelam National Liberation Front
The Eelam National Liberation Front was a short-lived umbrella organisation for leading Sri Lankan Tamil militant groups.-Formation:In April 1984 M...
for the murders (PLOTE wasn't a member of ENLF). The Sri Lankan government blamed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was a separatist militant organization formerly based in northern Sri Lanka. Founded in May 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran, it waged a violent secessionist and nationalist campaign to create an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for Tamil...
for the murders. It is now widely believed that the murders were carried out by Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization
Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization
The Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization is an Eelam Tamil organisation campaigning for the establishment of an independent Tamil Eelam in the northeast of Sri Lanka. The TELO was originally created as a militant group, and functioned as such until 1986, when most of its membership was killed in a...
, an Indian backed militant group, on the orders of the Research and Analysis Wing
Research and Analysis Wing
The Research and Analysis Wing is India's external intelligence agency. It was formed in September 1968 after the poor performance of the Intelligence Bureau in the Sino-Indian war of 1962 and the India-Pakistani war of 1965 convinced the then government of India that a specialized, independent...
, the Indian intelligence agency.