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{{Short description|Sri Lankan politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Engvar|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable|Hon.]]
| name = A. Amirthalingam
| native_name = {{lang|ta|அ. அமிர்தலிங்கம்}}
| honorific-suffix =
| image = Appapillai Amirthalingam.jpg
| office = 7th [[Leader of the Opposition (Sri Lanka)|Leader of the Opposition]]
| president = [[J. R. Jayewardene]]
| primeminister = [[J. R. Jayewardene]] <br /> [[Ranasinghe Premadasa]]
| predecessor = [[J. R. Jayewardene]]
| successor = [[Anura Bandaranaike]]
| term_start = 4 August 1977
| term_end = 24 October 1983
| office2 = Leader of the [[Tamil United Liberation Front]]
| term_start2 = 1977
| term_end2 = 1989
| predecessor2 = [[S. J. V. Chelvanayakam]]
| successor2 = [[M. Sivasithamparam]]
| constituency_MP3 = [[Vaddukoddai Electoral District|Vaddukoddai]]
| parliament3 = Ceylonese
| majority3 =
| predecessor3 = [[V. Veerasingam]], [[All Ceylon Tamil Congress|ACTC]]
| successor3 = [[A. Thiagarajah]], [[All Ceylon Tamil Congress|ACTC]]
| term_start3 = 1956
| term_end3 = 1970
| constituency_MP4 = [[Kankesanthurai Electoral District|Kankesanthurai]]
| parliament4 = Sri Lankan
| majority4 =
| predecessor4 = [[S. J. V. Chelvanayakam]], [[Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi|ITAK]]
| successor4 =
| term_start4 = 21 July 1977
| term_end4 = 22 October 1983
| constituency_MP5 = [[National List Member of Parliament|National List]]
| parliament5 = Sri Lankan
| majority5 =
| predecessor5 =
| successor5 = [[Mavai Senathirajah]], [[Tamil United Liberation Front|TULF]]
| term_start5 = 1989
| term_end5 = 1989
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1927|8|26|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Pannagam]], [[Vaddukoddai]], [[British Ceylon]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1989|07|13|1927|08|26|df=yes}}
| death_place = 342/2 Baudhaloka Mawatha, [[Colombo]], [[Sri Lanka]]
| citizenship =
| nationality = [[Sri Lanka]]n
| party = [[Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi]]
| otherparty = [[Tamil United Liberation Front]]
| spouse =
| partner =
| relations =
| children =
| residence =
| alma_mater = [[Ceylon Law College]]
| occupation =
| profession = Lawyer
| blank1 = Ethnicity
| data1 = [[Sri Lankan Tamil]]
| website = [http://www.amirthalingam.com/ amirthalingam.com]
| signature =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Appapillai Amirthalingam''' ({{lang-ta|அப்பாப்பிள்ளை அமிர்தலிங்கம்}}; {{lang-si|අප්පාපිල්ලෙයි අමිර්තලිංගම්}}; 26 August 1927 – 13 July 1989) was a leading [[Sri Lankan Tamil]] politician, [[Member of Parliament]] and [[Leader of the Opposition (Sri Lanka)|Leader of the Opposition]]. Amirthalingam was assassinated by the Tamil Tigers.<ref>{{cite news|last=D. B. S. Jeyaraj|author-link=|title=Assassinating Tamil Parliamentarians: The unceasing waves|url=http://www.nation.lk/2008/03/16/newsfe1.htm|newspaper=The Nation, Sri Lanka|date=16 March 2008|access-date=23 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220083850/http://www.nation.lk/2008/03/16/newsfe1.htm|archive-date=20 February 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Rajasingham|first=K. T.|title=SRI LANKA: THE UNTOLD STORY|url=http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DE11Df02.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020515215711/http://atimes.com/ind-pak/DE11Df02.html|url-status=unfit|archive-date=2002-05-15|chapter=Chapter 39: Amirthalingham eliminated}}</ref>

==Early life==
Amirthalingam was born 26 August 1927 in [[Pannagam]] near [[Vaddukoddai]] in northern province of [[Ceylon]]. He was the son of S. Appapillai, a retired station master, and Valliammai. He had three brothers (Sockalingam, Vasu Thevalingam and Thigamparalingam). He was educated at Meihandan Tamil School, Pannakam and Victoria College, Chulipuram. He later studied at [[Ceylon University College]]. After graduation he joined the legal profession, becoming an [[advocate]].

Amirthalingam married Mangaiyarkarasi, daughter of Vallipuram. They had two sons - Kandeepan and Baheerathan.

==Political career==
Amirthalingam joined the newly formed [[Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi]] (Federal Party) in 1949 and became leader of its Youth Front. He was ITAK's candidate for [[Vaddukoddai Electoral District|Vaddukoddai]] at the [[1952 Ceylonese parliamentary election|1952 parliamentary election]] but failed to get elected.<ref>[http://www.slelections.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/general-election-results/general-election-1952.pdf 1952 Parliamentary Elections Results]{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Official Website, Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.</ref> He stood again at the [[1956 Ceylonese parliamentary election|1956 parliamentary election]]. He was won this time and entered [[Parliament of Ceylon|Parliament]].<ref>[http://www.slelections.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/general-election-results/general-election-1956.pdf 1956 Parliamentary Elections Results]{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Official Website, Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.</ref> He was re-elected at the [[March 1960 Ceylonese parliamentary election|March 1960]], [[July 1960 Ceylonese parliamentary election|July 1960]] and [[1965 Ceylonese parliamentary election|1965]] parliamentary elections.<ref>[http://www.slelections.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/general-election-results/general-election-1960-03-19.pdf 1960 (March) Parliamentary Elections Results]{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Official Website, Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.</ref><ref>[http://www.slelections.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/general-election-results/parliamentary-general-election-1960-07-20.pdf 1960 (July) Parliamentary Elections Results]{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Official Website, Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.</ref> He stood for re-election in Vaddukoddai at the [[1970 Ceylonese parliamentary election|1970 parliamentary election]] but was defeated by the [[All Ceylon Tamil Congress]] candidate.<ref>[http://www.slelections.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/general-election-results/general-election-1970.pdf 1970 Parliamentary Elections Results]{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Official Website, Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.</ref>

In 1972 the ITAK, ACTC and others formed the [[Tamil United Front]] (later renamed [[Tamil United Liberation Front]]). Amirthalingam was delivering leaflets along with other leading Tamil politicians ([[M. Sivasithamparam]], [[V. N. Navaratnam]], [[K. P. Ratnam]] and [[K. Thurairatnam]]) in 1976 when they were all arrested on government orders. Sivasithamparam was released but the others were taken to Colombo and tried for [[sedition]]. All the defendants were acquitted after a famous [[trial at bar]] case in which 72 Tamil lawyers including [[S. J. V. Chelvanayakam]] and [[G. G. Ponnambalam]] acted for the defence. S. J. V. Chelvanayakam, leader of the TULF and ITAK, died in April 1977. Amirthalingam took on the leadership of both organisations.

Amirthalingam was the TULF's candidate for [[Kankesanthurai Electoral District|Kankesanthurai]] at the [[1977 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|1977 parliamentary election]]. He won the election and re-entered Parliament.<ref>[http://www.slelections.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/general-election-results/general-election-1977.pdf 1977 Parliamentary Elections Results]{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Official Website, Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.</ref> The TULF became the largest opposition party in Parliament and Amirthalingam became [[Leader of the Opposition (Sri Lanka)|Leader of the Opposition]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Leaders of the Opposition |url=http://www.parliament.lk/handbook_of_parliament/leaders_of_opposition.jsp |work=Handbook of Parliament |publisher=[[Parliament of Sri Lanka]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112201541/http://parliament.lk/handbook_of_parliament/leaders_of_opposition.jsp |archive-date=12 November 2011 }}</ref>

Amirthalingam 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 militant groups|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 [[Tamil Eelam|separate state]]; and the Black July riots in which up to 3,000 Tamils were murdered by [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] mobs. After three months of absence, Amirthalingam forfeited his seat in Parliament on 22 October 1983.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wickramasinghe|first=Wimal|title=Saga of crossovers, expulsions and resignations etc. Referendum for {{sic|exten|tion|nolink=y}} of Parliament|url=http://www.island.lk/2008/01/18/features11.html|newspaper=The Island, Sri Lanka|date=18 January 2008|access-date=23 July 2011|archive-date=17 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617063609/http://www.island.lk/2008/01/18/features11.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Amirthalingam and his family, like many families of leading Tamil politicians, fled to [[Madras]] (now Chennai), [[Tamil Nadu]]. Whilst in India Amirthalingam took part in numerous peace talks. After the signing of the [[Indo-Sri Lanka Accord]] in 1987 Amirthalingam returned to Sri Lanka. Amirthalingam and his wife moved into a house in Bullers Road (Baudhaloka Mawatha) in the [[Cinnamon Gardens]] area of [[Colombo]]. The house was shared with other leading TULF politicians ([[M. Sivasithamparam]], [[V. Yogeswaran]] and [[Mavai Senathirajah]]) and their families.

Amirthalingam was one of the TULF's candidates in [[Batticaloa Electoral District|Batticaloa District]] at the [[1989 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|1989 parliamentary election]] but failed to get elected. He was however appointed as a [[National List Member of Parliament]] for the TULF after the election.

==Assassination==
In effort to bring about unity amongst the Tamils, Yogeswaran made contact with the [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]] and met with them several times. He arranged a meeting between the Tamil Tigers and the TULF leaders at their Bullers Road residence. On the evening of 13 July 1989 three men, Peter Aloysius Leon, Visu (Rasiah Aravindaram) and Sivakumar (Vignan/Arivu), arrived at the residence. Aloysius and Visu went inside the house whilst Sivakumar remained outside. The two men met with Yogeswaran, Amirthalingam and Sivasithamparam in Yogeswaran's apartment on the first floor. The meeting seemed to be going well when suddenly Visu pulled out a gun and shot Amirthalingam in the head and chest. Yogeswaran stood up but was shot by Aloysius and Visu. Security guards heard the shots and rushed in, shooting the assailants who were injured. The assailants shot Sivasithamparam in the shoulder before running downstairs. They were chased and shot dead by the security guards. Sivakumar was also shot and died later of his injuries. Amirthalingam and Yogeswaran were killed but Sivasithamparam survived. The Tamil Tigers initially denied responsibility for the assassinations but later accepted responsibility.

==Further reading==
*{{Cite magazine|title=President Jayewardene is stronger than many people think: A. Amirthalingam|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/neighbours/story/19831215-president-jayewardene-is-stronger-than-many-people-think-a.-amirthalingam-804500-2014-01-31|date=1983-12-15|author=S Venkat Narayan|magazine=[[India Today]]}}

==See also==
* [[List of assassinations of the Sri Lankan Civil War]]

==References==
* {{cite book|last=Arumugam|first=S.|title=Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon|url=http://www.noolaham.org/wiki/index.php?title=Dictionary_of_Biography_of_the_Tamils_of_Ceylon|year=1997|pages=5–6}}
* {{cite web|title=Brief History |url=http://www.amirthalingam.com/history.html |publisher=A. Amirthalingam: Life and Struggle |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110502082149/http://amirthalingam.com/history.html |archive-date=2 May 2011 }}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110429212703/http://amirthalingam.com/ A. Amirthalingam: Life and Struggle]

{{Sri Lankan Leaders of the Opposition}}
{{Members of 8th Parliament of Sri Lanka}}
{{Members of 6th Parliament of Ceylon}}
{{Members of 5th Parliament of Ceylon}}
{{Members of 4th Parliament of Ceylon}}
{{Members of 3rd Parliament of Ceylon}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Amirthalingam, A.}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Sri Lankan lawyers]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Ceylon University College]]
[[Category:Assassinated Sri Lankan politicians]]
[[Category:Ceylonese advocates]]
[[Category:Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi politicians]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Opposition (Sri Lanka)]]
[[Category:Members of the 3rd Parliament of Ceylon]]
[[Category:Members of the 4th Parliament of Ceylon]]
[[Category:Members of the 5th Parliament of Ceylon]]
[[Category:Members of the 6th Parliament of Ceylon]]
[[Category:Members of the 8th Parliament of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Members of the 9th Parliament of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:People killed during the Sri Lankan Civil War]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Hindus]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Tamil lawyers]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Tamil politicians]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan terrorism victims]]
[[Category:Terrorism deaths in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Tamil United Liberation Front politicians]]
[[Category:People of the Sri Lankan Civil War]]
[[Category:Indian Peace Keeping Force]]

A. Amirthalingam - Revision history

Bot at 21:19, 27 November 2022