J. T. Arulanantham

Arulanantham was born on 13 May 1897.[1] He was son of two teachers from Nayanmarkaddu near Nallur in northern Ceylon. He was educated at St. John's College, Jaffna.[1] He then went to University College, Colombo from where he passed the University of London Inter Science Examination.[1]

Arulanantham was selected by the Church Missionary Society and sent to Ridley Hall, Cambridge to study theology.[1] He was ordained at St Paul's Cathedral in 1933.[1] He then went to King's College London from where he graduated with an honours degree in psychology.[1]

Arulanantham married Pushpam Asirvatham. They had three sons (Dr Pararasan, Vijayan and Dr Karunyan) and one daughter (Kirupa).[1]

After graduation Arulanantham returned to Ceylon and took up a position as principal of a school in Peradeniya.[1] In 1936 he was appointed vice principal of St. John's College, Jaffna.[1][2] He was appointed principal in 1940, a position he held until his retirement in 1957.[1][2] Arulanantham was the first native Ceylonese to be appointed principal of St. John's College.[1]

After retirement Arulanantham joined the church, serving as vicar of the Christ Church, Galle Face, Colombo.[1] Later he served as priest-in-charge of the St. John's Church, Chundikuli, Jaffna.[1] Arulanantham died on 21 June 1964 aged 67.[1]