AVAILABLE in MAY 2025

C. Suntharalingam was a Professor of Mathematics, scholar, lawyer and member of independent Ceylon’s first cabinet of Ministers, alongside D.S. Senanayake, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, J.R Jayewardene, J.L. Kotelawala and Dudley Senanayake. 

In an era of rising communal tension, Suntharalingam became a controversial figure. He famously gave a throne speech at parliament in 1955 stating the need for “a separate independent autonomous state of ‘Tamil Ilankai’ composed of Tamil speaking peoples in Ceylon” should Sinhala be made the sole official language of Ceylon. 

During this time he wrote open letters to his grandchildren venting his disenchantment at the direction Ceylon’s newly gained independence was taking. This book republishes these serialised letters that provide an insight into a version of events that contributed to Sri Lanka’s turbulent recent history.