Background
Sittampalam was born on 13 September 1898. He was the son of A. Cathiravelu, a proctor and member of the Jaffna Local Board.
Sittampalam was born on 13 September 1898. He was the son of A. Cathiravelu, a proctor and member of the Jaffna Local Board.
He was educated at Jaffna Central College and Royal College, Colombo. After school Sittampalam joined Saint Peter"s College, Cambridge on a science scholarship and graduated with a degree in mathematics.
Aged 15 he passed the Senior Cambridge with first class honours and distinction in mathematics. Sittampalam married Kamalambikai. Sittampalam was called to the Bar from Middle Temple.
He joined the civil service in 1923 and served in various positions including Assistant Government Agent and District Judge.
He later left the civil service and practised as an advocate. Sittampalam stood as an independent candidate in Mannar at the 1947 parliamentary election.
He was persuaded to join the United National Party led government and on 26 September 1947 he was sworn in as Minister of Posts and Telecommunication. He was made Minister of Industries, Industrial Research and Fisheries after George East. de Silva was unseated by an election petition.
Sittampalam was re-elected at the May 1952 parliamentary election but lost his cabinet position.
He was defeated at the 1956 parliamentary election by the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (Federal Party) candidate V. A. Alegacone. Sittampalam died on 3 February 1964. In February 2004 Sri Lanka Post issued a commemorative stamp of Sittampalam.
Sittampalam was a member of a distinguished family.