Background
Duraiswamy was born on 8 June 1874 in Velanaitivu, as island in the north of Ceylon. He was the son of Ayampillai Waithilingam, an engineer from Malaya.
Duraiswamy was born on 8 June 1874 in Velanaitivu, as island in the north of Ceylon. He was the son of Ayampillai Waithilingam, an engineer from Malaya.
He was educated at Jaffna College and Jaffna Central College. After school he joined University of Calcutta, from where he graduated with a double honours degree.
He then qualified as an advocate from the Ceylon Law College. Duraiswamy was married to Rasammah from Maatakal, Jaffna. Duraiswamy had four sons (Yogendra, Rajendra, Mahendra and Devendra).
After qualifying Duraiswamy worked as an advocate, becoming a crown advocate and leader of the Jaffna Bar.
Duraiswamy contested the 1921 Legislative Council election as a candidate in Northern Province and was elected to the Legislative Council. He contested the 1924 Legislative Council election as a candidate in Northern Province West and was re-elected unopposed.
The boycott ended in 1934 but Duraiswamy did not contest the ensuing by-elections. He did however contest the 1936 State Council election as a candidate in Kayts and was elected to the State Council unopposed.
Duraiswamy was elected Speaker of the State Council on 17 March 1936.
He held this position until the State Council was replaced in 1947. Duraiswamy was knighted by King George VI in London in May 1937. Duraiswamy contested in Kayts at the 1947 election but failed to get elected to the new Parliament after coming fourth.
Duraiswamy died on 12 April 1966.
A commorative postage stamp in honour of Duraiswamy was issued on 14 June 1982.
A wave of Tamil nationalism represented by the Tamil Congress had swept away the old legislative guard at the 1947 elections.
He was a leading member of the Jaffna Youth Congress which advocated the boycott of the 1931 State Council elections. He was also president of the Vivekananda Society and a leading member of the Saiva Paripalana Sabhai.
