K. V. Nadarajah

Kanthapillai Velupillai Nadarajah was a leading Ceylon Tamil lawyer and Member of Parliament.

Nadarajah was born on 6 July 1905. He was the son of K. Velupillai and Atchikuddy. Nadarajah was educated at Jaffna Central College and Parameshwara College, Jaffna. After school he joined Ceylon University College. He then entered Colombo Law College, qualifying as a proctor.

Nadarajah married Gnanamani, daughter of P. S. Eliyatamby. They had a son (Bala).

Nadarajah started practicising law in Badulla in 1930. He continued practising in Uva Province for 54 years.

Nadarajah was a member of Badulla Urban Council for more than ten years. He contested the 1947 parliamentary election as an independent candidate in Bandarawela and was elected to Parliament.

Nadarajah was president of the Badulla Saiva Paripalana Sangam and managing trustee of the Kathir-velauthar Swami Temple in Badulla. He was the founder of first Tamil school in Uva and served as the manager of Badualla Saraswathi Minor and Maha Vidayalam for 30 years.

Nadarajah home in Pingarawa was burnt to the ground during the Black July anti-Tamil riots of 1983. Nadarajah fled to Colombo with assistance of Jack Kotelawela, former MP for Badulla.