V. Veerasingam

Hon. V. Veerasingam MP MBE
வி. வீரசிங்கம்
Member of the Ceylonese Parliament for Vaddukoddai
In office 1952–1956
Preceded by	K. Kanagaratnam
Succeeded by	A. Amirthalingam
Personal details
Born	1892
Died	(1964-12-05)5 December 1964
Alma mater	Ceylon University College
Profession	Teacher
Ethnicity	Ceylon Tamil

Visuvalingam Veerasingam MBE (Tamil: விசுவலிங்கம் வீரசிங்கம்; 1892 – 5 December 1964) was a Ceylon Tamil teacher, politician and Member of Parliament.

Early life and family

Veerasingam was born in 1892.[1] He was from Manipay in northern Ceylon.[1] After school he joined the Ceylon University College, graduating in 1921 with a B.A. degree.[1][2]

Career

Veerasingam was a teacher at Manipay Hindu College before becoming its principal in April 1922.[1][3]

After retiring in 1951 Veerasingam played a key role in the co-operative movement in Jaffna District.[1] He was elected the first president of the Federation of Co-operative Societies, Jaffna District, a position he held until his death.[1] The Veerasingam Hall, a public hall/office building in Jaffna owned by the co-operative society, was named after him.[1][3]

Veerasingam contested the 1947 parliamentary election as an independent candidate in Vaddukoddai but was defeated by the All Ceylon Tamil Congress candidate K. Kanagaratnam.[4] He however won the 1952 parliamentary election and entered Parliament.[5]

Veerasingam was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1952 New Year Honours.[6] He died on 5 December 1964.[1]

References

1. Arumugam, S. (1997). Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon. p. 243.
2. Ceylon University College Prospectus 1936-37. Ceylon University College. 1936. p. 49.
3. Somasunderam, Subramaniam (5 October 2004). "Manipay Hindu College in my time - an alumnus remembers". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 5 February 2005.
4. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1947" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
5. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1952" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
6. "Fourth Supplement". The London Gazette (39424): 46. 28 December 1951.