D. T. Niles

Niles was born on 4 May 1908 in Tellippalai in northern Ceylon.[1] He was the son of district judge W. D. Niles and Rani Muthamma.[2] He was educated at Jaffna Central College.[1][2] After school he received theological training at United Theological College, Bangalore between 1920 and 1933.[2]

Mailvaganam married Dulcie Solomons in 1935.[2] They had two sons (Preman and Wesley Dayalan).[2]

After returning to Ceylon Niles taught at Jaffna Central College until 1936.[2] He was then ordained as a priest and became District Evangelist for the North District of the Methodist Church of Ceylon.[2]

Niles became general secretary of the National Christian Council of Ceylon.[2] He was chairman of the Youth Department of the World Council of Churches between 1948 and 1952.[2] He was appointed Executive Secretary of the Department of Evangelism in the World Council of Churches in 1953.[1] He also served as chairman of the World Student Christian Federation.[1] He was general secretary and later chairman of the East Asian Christian Conference.[1] He was also one of the presidents of the World Council of Churches.[1]

Niles was pastor of the Methodist Church in Point Pedro (1946–50); pastor at Maradana (1950–53); principal of Jaffna Central College (1956–62); and superintendent minister at St. Peter's Church, Jaffna (1953–59).[2] He was elected chairman of the North Ceylon Synod and president of the Ceylon Methodist Conference in 1964.[2] Niles wrote the hymn "The Great love of God is revealed in the Son".[3]

Niles died on 17 July 1970.[2]