S. A. Tharmalingam

Sanmugam Appacuddy Tharmalingam (; born 23 March 1908, date of death unknown) was a Sri Lankan Tamil physician, politician and Mayor of Jaffna.

Early life and family Tharmalingam was born on 23 March 1908. He was the son of Sanmugam Appacuddy. Tharmalingam was educated at St. John's College, Jaffna and St. Patrick's College, Jaffna. They had four daughters - Tharmambal, Tharmavalli, Tharmasothy and Tharmarani. Tharmalingam was elected to Jaffna Municipal Council, serving as the city's mayor between 1962 and 1963. In 1982 several members of TULF, including Tharmalingam, who opposed the party's decision to support the government's proposals for District Development Councils left TULF formed a ginger group called Tamil Eelam Liberation Front (TELF). Tharmalingam was president of TELF whilst Kovai Mahesan, former editor of the Suthanthiran, was its secretary.

In June 1983 several cities in Sri Lanka witnessed violence against Tamils. On 25 July 1983 the Black July anti-Tamil riots spread to Welikada's Chapel Ward and around 35 Tamil prisoners were massacred by Sinhalese prisoners, aided and abetted by Sinhalese prison officers. Two days later armed Sinhalese prisoners broke into the Youth Ward and started attacking Tamil prisoners. Tharmalingam, who was too old to escape, remained behind and was eventually released in November 1983.

Tharmalingam migrated to England in 1984.