Mrs. Mangaiyarkkarasi Amirthalingam the widow of former Sri Lanka Leader of the Opposition and Tamil United Liberation Front(TULF) Leader Appapilaai Amirthalingam passed away at a Hospital in London, UK, on Wednesday March 9th 2016 . Mrs. Amirthalingam who was 82 years of age had been hospitalised a day earlier for a pancreatic ailment on Tuesday March 8th . She had been living in London since 1989 after her husband A. Amirthalingam was assassinated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) on July 13th 1989.

Mangaiyarkkarasi Amirthalingam (July 3rd 1933 – March 9, 2016)

Although perceived largely in public life as the wife of Tamil political leader Amirthalingam, Mamgaiyarkkarasi in her own right was active in politics. She used to accompany her husband regularly for political meetings and sang songs on stage in praise of the Tamil language. In later years Mangaiyarkkarasi also addressed meetings and earned a reputation for being an emotional fiery speaker.

Mangayarkarasi Amirthalingam was born in Moolai, Vaddukoddai, Jaffna on July 3rd 1933. As a twelve year old, she enrolled at Ramanathan College in Maruthanamadam – founded by Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan – where she specialised in music. She gained much proficiency in, Carnatic music and drama at Ramanathan College.

She married the young lawyer and rising Tamil political leader of the Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi (ITAK) in 1954. Amirthalingam was elected MP for Vaddukkoddai from 1956 to 1970 and also served as Kankesanthurai MP from 1977 to 1983.She became one of the leading Tamil political figures of the time, renowned for her oratory skills, singing talents and political activism. She actively participated in the 1961 Satyagraha campaign in 1961 and was detained by the SLFP govt of Mrs. Sirima Bandaranaike at the Panagoda Army cantonment along with her husband and other Tamil MP’s and activists. She was the solitary woman under detention then.

The TULF became the chief opposition party in 1977 and Amirthalingam became the first Tamil leader of the opposition. Mrs. Amirthalingam shared much of the limelight along with her husband during this time. She travelled abroad with her husband and met several foreign political leaders.

Her hard hitting speeches made her the target of several Sinhala politicians. After the July 1983 anti-Tamil pogrom Amirthalingam and Mangaiyarkkarasi along with many other Tamil leaders went into self – exile in Chennai. In 1989 Amirthalingam returned to Sri Lanka and became a TULF National list MP. He was assassinated in July 1989.

After her husband’s demise Mangaiyarkkarasi relocated to London where her two sons Kandeepan and Bhageeratham were residing. Mrs. Amirthalingam virtually retired from politics and maintained a low profile during the years she lived in London. Mangaiyarkkarasi however was involved in community and cultural activities as a senior Tamil citizen .

Mangaiyarkkarasi Amirthalingam’s funeral will take place in London on March 20th 2016.