K. W. Devanayagam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hon. Deshamanya
K. W. Devanayagam
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க. வி. தேவநாயகம்
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| Minister of Justice | |
| In office 1977–1980 |
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| Succeeded by | Nissanka Wijeratne |
| Minister of Home Affairs | |
| Member of the Ceylonese Parliament for Kalkudah |
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| In office 1965–1989 |
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| Preceded by | P. Manicavasagam |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 March 1910 |
| Died | 17 December 2002 (aged 92) |
| Political party | United National Party |
| Alma mater | St. Joseph's College, Colombo Ceylon Law College |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Ethnicity | Sri Lankan Tamil |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Deshamanya Kanapathipillai William "Bill" Devanayagam (1910–2002) was an important figure in Sri Lanka's history. He was a Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer and politician. He served as a government minister and was a Member of Parliament for many years.
Early Life and Education
Kanapathipillai William Devanayagam was born on March 26, 1910. He was a Roman Catholic. He went to St. Joseph's College, Colombo for his education.
Devanayagam was also a talented sportsman. He was the captain of his school's cricket team in 1930. He was also the tennis champion for East Ceylon. After finishing school, he studied at Ceylon Law College. There, he became a proctor, which is a type of lawyer.
Political Journey
After becoming a lawyer, Devanayagam worked in Kalkudah, in the Batticaloa District. He practiced law there for many years.
His political career began when he ran for election. In 1947, he tried to become a Member of Parliament for the Kalkudah Electoral District. He ran as an independent candidate but did not win that election.
However, Devanayagam did not give up. He ran again in the 1965 Ceylonese parliamentary election. This time, he was a candidate for the United National Party. He won the election and became a Member of Parliament.
He was re-elected two more times. He won in the 1970 Ceylonese parliamentary election and again in the 1977 Sri Lankan parliamentary election. This showed that people trusted him to represent them.
Important Roles in Government
After the 1977 election, Devanayagam was given important jobs in the government. In July 1977, he was appointed as the Minister of Justice. This role meant he was in charge of the country's legal system.
Later, in February 1980, he took on another big role. He became the Minister of Home Affairs. This position involved managing many local government services.
Later Years
Kanapathipillai William Devanayagam passed away on December 17, 2002. He was 92 years old. He is remembered for his long service as a lawyer and a dedicated politician in Sri Lanka.
