K. P. Ratnam

Kaarthigesar Ponnambalam Ratnam (; 10 March 1914 – 20 December 2010) was a Sri Lankan Tamil academic, politician and Member of Parliament.

Early life and family Ratnam was born on 10 March 1914 in Velanai on the island of Kayts in northern Ceylon. He was educated at Velanai Anglo-Vernacular School and Union College, Tellippalai. He excelled in Tamil language and Tamil literature at school. He later received a Bachelor of Oriental Languages degree and MA (1952) degree from the University of Madras in India. He stood as ITAK's candidate in Kayts at the 1970 parliamentary election. He won the election and re-entered Parliament.

On 14 May 1972 the ITAK, All Ceylon Tamil Congress, Ceylon Workers' Congress, Eelath Thamilar Otrumai Munnani and All Ceylon Tamil Conference formed the Tamil United Front, later renamed Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF). On 21 May 1976 Ratnam was delivering leaflets along with other leading Tamil politicians (A. Amirthalingam, V. N. Navaratnam, M. Sivasithamparam and K. Thurairatnam) when they were all arrested on government orders. Sivasithamparam was released but the others were taken to Colombo and tried for sedition.

Ratnam was the TULF's candidate in Kayts at the 1977 parliamentary election and was re-elected. Ratnam and all other TULF MPs boycotted Parliament from the middle of 1983 for a number of reasons: they were under pressure from Sri Lankan Tamil militants not to stay in Parliament beyond their normal six-year term; the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka required them to swear an oath unconditionally renouncing support for a separate state; and the Black July riots in which up to 3,000 Tamils were killed by Sinhalese mobs. After three months of absence, Ratnam forfeited his seat in Parliament on 22 October 1983.

Later life Ratnam was president of Colombo Tamil Sangam (1958–61), Ulaka Tamil Marai Kallakam and editor of the Tamil World (1965).

Works Thavaram Illai (1948) Ilankayil Inpath Tamil (1956) Nootandugalil Tamil (1961)