G. G. Ponnambalam

Ganapathipillai Gangaser Ponnambalam (; 8 November 1901 – 9 February 1977) was a Ceylon Tamil lawyer, politician and cabinet minister. He was the founder and leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), the first political party to represent the Ceylon Tamils.

Early life and family Ponnambalam was born on 8 November 1901. He was the son of Gangaser, a postmaster from Alvaly in northern Ceylon. Ponnambalam joined Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge on a government scholarship, graduating with a first class degree in natural sciences tripos. He also received LL.B. and MA degrees from Cambridge. He returned to Ceylon, via France, in 1927 and started practising law as an advocate. As his popularity began to decline in the late 1950s Ponnambalam gradually moved his legal practice to Malaya, only returning to Ceylon to contest elections and take part in high-profile cases.

In January 1976 the Union Government of India dismissed the state government of Tamil Nadu, accusing Chief Minister Karunanidhi of corruption, and imposed President's rule. Karunanidhi was cleared of the corruption charges. Sivasithamparam was released but the others were taken to Colombo and tried for sedition.

Politics Ponnambalam became the political leader of the Ceylon Tamils following the deaths of P. Arunachalam (1924) and his brother P. Ramanathan (1930). He contested the 1931 state council election as a candidate in Mannar-Mullaitivu but failed to get elected to the State Council.

The Board of Ministers established after the 1936 state council election consisted entirely of Sinhalese members, excluding minorities who together made up 35% of Ceylon's population. He repeated the demand when he gave evidence to the Soulbury Commission in February 1945.

In August 1944 Ponnambalam formed the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), the first political party to represent the Ceylon Tamils, from various Tamil groups. He was elected president of the party. The ACTC swept the poll in the Tamil dominated Northern Province, winning seven of the nine seats in the province. The United National Party (UNP) became the largest party Parliament but it did not have a majority. Ponnambalam and the ACTC opposed the bill. Shortly afterwards Ponnambalam decided to join the UNP led government. Kankesanthurai Cement Factory, Paranthan Caustic Soda Chemical Factory and Valaichchenai Paper Mill were opened during Ponnambalam's ministerial tenure.

Ponnambalam was re-elected at the 1952 parliamentary election. His cabinet portfolio was changed to Minister of Industries and Fisheries in June 1952. . On 22 October 1953 — shortly after Sir John Kotelawala replaced Dudley Senanayake as Prime Minister — G. G. Ponnambalam left his post as Minister of Industries and Fisheries amid a cabinet reshuffle widely reported at the time and attributed to political realignment because Ponnambalam had supported Dudley.

Ponnambalam was re-elected at the 1956 parliamentary election but lost his seat at the March 1960 parliamentary election. He tried unsuccessfully to re-gain his seat at the July 1960 parliamentary election. He was elected at the 1965 parliamentary election. After the election the ACTC joined the UNP led national government and Ponnambalam was offered a ministerial position which he declined. Between 1967 and 1969 Ponnambalam led Ceylon's delegation to UN General Assembly. Ponnambalam lost his seat again at the 1970 parliamentary election.