96th Death Anniversary of Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam: Scholar, Statesman and Patriot

The 96th Death Anniversary of Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam was commemorated on January 9 at 5 p.m. at the Presidential Secretariat premises (Old Parliament). 
The chief guest was Sanjay Rajaratnem, Acting Solicitor General and D.M. Swaminathan was the Guest of Honour. 
The welcome address was delivered by A. Kailasapillai, Trustee, while a citation was delivered by Dr J.M. Swaminathan Vice- Chairman of Trustees. 
Sir Ponnambalam was a Scholar and Statesman, Administrator and patriot. 
When we consider Sir Ponnambalam’s life as a whole, we come before a man of strong will, clear vision, character and efficiency, who had towered above the giants of his day remains an example and inspiration to succeeding generations of Sri Lankans. 
He helped to lay the foundation of the freedom which Sri Lanka enjoys today. 

"When we consider Sir Ponnambalam’s life as a whole, we come before a man of strong will, clear vision, character and efficiency, who had towered above the giants of his day remains an example and inspiration to succeeding generations of Sri Lankans"

A short time after Sir Ponnambalam’s death the grateful people honoured his memory by erecting his statue in the grounds of the old Parliament house the present Presidential Secretariat premises 
It was unveiled by the then Governor, Sir Herbert Stanley on the 3rd April 1930. It was the first statue to adorn this premises and stood in solitary splendour till the statue of his Brother Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan was erected in 1953. 
The garlanding of the statue was done by Mr Sanjay Rajaratnam and Hon. D. M. Swaminathan. 
Family members Mrs Sarla Nagendra, Nirmalan Nagendra, Prashan Nagendra, Mrs Iswari Mahadeva and Hari Namasivayam along with office bearers of the Hindu Congress, Colombo North Hindu Paripalana Sangam and other distinguished personalities also garlanded the statue.