S. Saravanamuttu

Lieutenant Colonel Sabdharatnajyoti "Thambirajah" Saravanamuttu, MBE (1898 – 17 July 1957; also known as S. Sara) was a Ceylon Tamil lawyer, politician, military officer, cricketer and sports administrator.

Early life and family Saravanamuttu was born in 1898 in Colombo, Ceylon. He was the son of Vetharniam Saravanamuttu, a physician from Colombo. His mother's family were from Vaddukoddai in northern Ceylon. His paternal grandfather Vetharniam is reputed to be the founder of Chunnakam, a small town in northern Ceylon. Saravanamuttu had five eminent brothers: Ratnasothy, Nanasothy, Tharmasothy, Paikiasothy and Manicasothy. He was also head prefect and boxing champion at S. Thomas. Saravanamuttu served in the Ceylon Defense Force during World War II, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. After the war he qualified as a lawyer and practised law. He played in the European-Ceylonese Test series and for Ceylon against Australia, New Zealand and Marylebone Cricket Club. He was president of the Board of Control for Cricket in Ceylon.

Saravanamuttu was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1953 Coronation Honours. He died on 17 July 1957 in Colombo aged 59.