23 Facts About Joseph Pararajasingham

Joseph Pararajasingham was a Sri Lankan Tamil civil servant, journalist, businessman and politician.

Joseph Pararajasingham was Member of Parliament for Batticaloa District from 1990 to 2004 and a National List Member of Parliament from 2004 to 2005.

Joseph Pararajasingham's family moved to Batticaloa when he was three years old.

Joseph Pararajasingham was educated at St Michael's College National School where he played football and basketball and was an athlete, representing the school in the high jump.

Joseph Pararajasingham married Sugunam David, whose family were originally from the Thondamanaru area of Vadamarachchi, in 1956.

Joseph Pararajasingham joined Batticaloa Kachcheri in the mid-1950s as a tracer in the Land Commissioner's Department.

Selvanayagam took revenge on Joseph Pararajasingham by trying to have him transferred from Batticaloa Kachcheri to Nuwara Eliya Kachcheri.

Joseph Pararajasingham chose instead to retire under the provisions of the Official Languages Act.

Joseph Pararajasingham subsequently bought the Imperial Theatre and renamed it Subaraj Theatre after his late son.

Joseph Pararajasingham owned the Subaraj Inn tourist lodge and Subaraj Shopping Complex in Batticaloa.

Joseph Pararajasingham then worked as the Batticaloa correspondent for Independent Newspapers, writing for Dinapathi and Chinthamini.

Joseph Pararajasingham was an active social worker - he was secretary of the Parents' Association and the Batticaloa Red Cross Society.

Joseph Pararajasingham was a member of TULF from the beginning and was joint secretary of its Batticaloa branch.

Joseph Pararajasingham was re-elected at the 1994 and 2000 parliamentary elections.

Joseph Pararajasingham was made leader of the TULF parliamentary group in 1994.

Joseph Pararajasingham contested the 2001 parliamentary election as one of the TNA's candidates in Batticaloa District.

Joseph Pararajasingham was appointed senior vice president of the TULF in June 2002.

Joseph Pararajasingham failed to get re-elected at the 2004 parliamentary election after coming sixth amongst the TNA candidates.

Joseph Pararajasingham was an executive member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the SAARC Parliamentary Association.

Joseph Pararajasingham wanted to attend the midnight mass at St Mary's Cathedral, Batticaloa being given by Bishop Kingsley Swampillai but a worried Sugunam suggested that they attend mass on Christmas morning.

Joseph Pararajasingham was killed on the spot and seven others, including Sugunam, were injured.

Joseph Pararajasingham was taken to hospital by a nephew whilst Sugunam was taken by a niece.

Joseph Pararajasingham was buried at the family plot in Aalaiyadicholai burial grounds, Batticaloa on 29 December 2005.