A. Coomaraswamy

In this Tamil name, there is no surname or family name. The name Arumugampillai is a patronym, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Coomaraswamy.

Arumugampillai Coomaraswamy (Tamil: ஆறுமுகம்பிள்ளை குமாரசுவாமி; 1783 – 7 November 1836) was a Ceylon Tamil member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon.

Gate Mudaliyar A. Coomaraswamy MLC
ஆ. குமாரசுவாமி
Unofficial Member (Tamil), Legislative Council of Ceylon
In office 1833–1836
Succeeded by	Simon Casie Chetty
Personal details
Born	1783 Garudavil, Ceylon
Died	7 November 1836(1836-11-07) (aged 52–53)
Ethnicity	Ceylon Tamil

Early life and family

See also: Ponnambalam-Coomaraswamy family

Coomaraswamy was born in 1783 in Garudavil near Point Pedro in northern Ceylon.^[1] He was the son of Arumugampillai.^[2]

Coomaraswamy married Visalachchi.^[2] They had a son (Muthu Coomaraswamy) and a daughter (Sellachi). Coomaraswamy was the grandfather of four eminent Ceylon Tamils: Ananda Coomaraswamy, P. Coomaraswamy, P. Ramanathan and P. Arunachalam.^[2][3]

Career

Coomaraswamy was appointed Mudaliyar of the Governor's Gate in 1805.^[2] He was personal officer to Governor Brownrigg between 1812 and 1822.^[2] He also served governors Paget and Barnes.^[2]

When the Legislative Council of Ceylon was established in 1833 Coomaraswamy was appointed as the unofficial member representing Tamils.^[2][4]

Coomaraswamy died on 7 November 1836.^[5]