Chelliah Edwin Anandarajah (Anandarajan) was a Sri Lankan educationist. He was a teacher and principal of St. John's College, Jaffna.[1] He was assassinated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam during the Sri Lankan Civil War.

C. E. Anandarajah
Born(1931-01-31)31 January 1931
Died26 June 1985(1985-06-26) (aged 54)
Alma materKopay Christian College
St. John's College, Jaffna
Madras Christian College
OccupationTeacher
SpouseLate Padma
Children5 children

Early life

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Anandarajah was born on 31 January 1932.[2] He was the eldest son of G. S. Chelliah, principal of Kopay Christian College in Kopay in northern province of Ceylon. He was educated at Kopay Christian College and St. John's College, Jaffna where he was the senior prefect in 1951.[2] He then went to Madras Christian College from where he graduated with a degree in zoology.[2]

Anandarajah married Padma, daughter of Kadirgamar. They had five children.[2]

Career

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After graduation Anandarajah returned to Ceylon and took up a position as assistant teacher at St. John's College in May 1955.[2][3] In June 1970 he was appointed co-vice principal and in 1975 he became vice principal.[3] He was appointed principal in March 1976, a position he held until his assassination in June 1985.[2][3]

Assassination

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Anandarajah was assassinated on 26 June 1985 in Jaffna as he was riding his motorbike.[2] It is alleged that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam assassinated Anandarajah for organising a cricket match with the Sri Lankan military.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "History". St. John's College, Jaffna. Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Arumugam, S. (1997). Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon. p. 7.
  3. ^ a b c "C.E.Anandarajan". Chundikuli St.John's Past Pupils Association. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  4. ^ Gautamadasa, Aravinda (29 July 2005). "Commemorating a slain principal". The Island, Sri Lanka.