Neelan Tiruchelvam

Neelakandan Tiruchelvam, PC (; 31 January 1944 – 29 July 1999) was a Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer, academic, human rights activist and politician. He was a Member of Parliament and Director of the International Centre for Ethnic Studies. He advocated for a peaceful resolution to the Sri Lankan Civil War and is considered one of the most influential researchers on constitutional law and constitutional theory in Sri Lanka.

On 29 July 1999, Tiruchelvam was assassinated when an attacker detonated his explosives next to Tiruchelvam's car. The militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was widely blamed for the assassination, which received condemnation from around the world. In 2001 he was posthumously awarded the Law and Society Association first International Prize for "his distinguished scholarship in legal pluralism, human rights, constitutionalism, ethnic conflict, and the capacity of law to contain violence". He has also received posthumous recognition by the Train Foundation's Civil Courage Prize.

Early life and family Tiruchelvam was born on 31 January 1944. He was the son of M. Tiruchelvam, a leading lawyer, and Punithavathy. He was educated at Royal College, Colombo. After school he joined the Department of Law at the University of Ceylon, Colombo, graduating with a LL.B. degree. He then proceeded to Harvard Law School from where he received M.A. and J.S.D. degrees.

Tiruchelvam married Sithie. They had two sons (Nirgunan and Mithran).

Career Tiruchelvam was called to the bar as an advocate in 1968.

Tiruchelvam held several academic positions in Sri Lanka and the USA.

Tiruchelvam was director of the Colombo-based International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES). Kuttimani was at that time in prison awaiting trial on charges related to the Neervely bank robbery. Tiruchelvam took his oath in on 8 March 1983.

After the Black July riots many TULF leaders went into exile but Tiruchelvam stayed in Colombo. Tiruchelvam was appointed as the TULF's National List MP in Parliament following the 1994 parliamentary election. Tiruchelvam, along with G. L. Peiris, were the lead authors of President Chandrika Kumaratunga's 1995 constitutional reform and devolution plan (also known as the "GL-Neelan Package" or "The New Deal"). The plan involved turning Sri Lanka from a unitary state into a "union of regions", merging of the Northern and Eastern provinces, expanding the subjects devolved to provincial councils, establishment of a mechanism to resolve disputes between the central and provincial governments and greater recognition of Sri Lanka's many minorities. The plan went beyond the Thirteenth Amendment and was federalism in all but name. The plan, which was released on 3 August 1995, was generally welcomed both in Sri Lanka and abroad but was attacked by Sinhalese nationalists and Tamil militants. The plan was subsequently watered down so much that even the TULF refused to support it and the plan was never implemented. Thiruchelvam's driver, bodyguard and three policemen in an escort jeep behind the car were also injured. The militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was widely blamed for the assassination. The assassination received condemnation from around the world.

Legacy In 2001 Tiruchelvam was posthumously awarded the Law and Society Association first International Prize for "his distinguished scholarship in legal pluralism, human rights, constitutionalism, ethnic conflict, and the capacity of law to contain violence". He has also received posthumous recognition by the Train Foundation's Civil Courage Prize.

Tiruchelvam was notable for his research into constitutional law and theory and is considered to be pioneering researchers into the field in Sri Lanka.

The Neelan Tiruchelvam Trust (NTT) was established in 2001, to continue his work in promoting democracy, good governance, social justice, institution building and promote human rights in Sri Lanka.

On the 26th anniversary of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam's assassination, a non-profit documentary titled NEELAN: UNSILENCED was released, featuring interviews with his family, academic colleagues, political peers, and others who witnessed his enduring legacy.