Mr Sellathurai Gunaratnam, a prestigious son of Jaffna Hindu College and a former President of Colombo OBA passed away on 18th November, 2009.
Mr Gunaratnam served as a president of Colombo OBA for over ten years, from 1987 - 1998. He also served the Colombo Tamil Sangam in numerous ways and was the President of it from 1988 to 1998.
He, as the President of the OBA Committee that organized the musical evening, collected over 2 million Rupees and created a trust fund for the Hindu College.
Mr Gunaratnam, born to Mr VS Sellathurai and Nagamma on 3 March 1935, hails from Saravanai, a village in Velanai. A Graduate of University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, he had his early education in Jaffna. He had an illustrious career at Jaffna Hindu College from 1945 to 1954.
On completing his B.A degree, he joined the teaching service in 1957 and served at St' Pauls Kandy and Hartley College, Jaffna. There upon he had a steady growth in his career in government service. On succeeding in the civil service examination, he joined the Sri Lanka Government service as a District Land Officer in Land Commission and within a few years time he was admitted to the Ceylon Administrative Service and became the Director, Plan Implementation. He ended up his career at Land Commissioners Department as the Deputy Land Commissioner. And finally he rose to the height of Ministry Secretary.
In 1987, he was appointed as the Secretary to the Cabinet Ministry of Regional Development, Hindu Culture and Tamil Affairs. He was also appointed by the then Sri Lanka President to a high level presidential Committee of Secretaries to oversee the implementation of the Indo - Sri Lanka Pact and consequent rehabilitation in 1989.
He served as a State Secretary at various ministries and as a Director of the Ceylon Electricity Board, and was a Chairman of the committee to study alternative energy sources and development of renewable energy.
Even after retirement from government service from 1st January 1991, his service to the nation continued, He worked as the Chairman of the Co-operative Commission North-East Province, Chairman of the Public Service Commission North-East Province and a Consultant at the Ministry of Policy Planning and Implementation in 1995.
He excelled even outside his professional career in the government service. He rendered in poetical verse "Ponvizha Pottisai," the history of the Colombo Tamil Sangam from its inception unto its 50th anniversary, the "Golden Jubilee Year" of Sangam.
Mr Gunaratnam was conferred with "Illakkiya Chemmal" by the state Sahithiya Council.
Comments (4)
Our deepest sympathies.
A Thiruketheeswaran.
UK.
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Ponnudurai Balendran.