Education
Born to M. Goonetilleke, Head Mudaliyar. He was educated at Street Thomas" College and at University of Calcutta.
Born to M. Goonetilleke, Head Mudaliyar. He was educated at Street Thomas" College and at University of Calcutta.
Having been called to the bar in Ceylon, he started a practice in Kandy and was also elected to the Kandy Municipal Council in 1885. He thereafter served as a Magistrate of the Municipal Court. In 1890, Tilleke came to Siam and started a new practice.
In the face of colonial pressure by the French and before a French Court conducted in Thailand, Tilleke exonerated Phra Yot through affirmative evidence and all seven judges presiding returned a "Not Guilty" verdict.
With G. West. Ward, he started the Siam Observer, the first English daily newspaper. Foreign his services, Tilleke was bestowed a peerage and the title Maha Ammart Tho Phraya Attakarn Prasiddhi by the Siamese King.
In 1894, Tilleke gained recognition when he successfully defended Phra Yot Muang Kwang, a Thai provincial governor, who had been accused of murdering a French military officer