Biography
Kumar Ponnambalam was born in the capital city of Colombo to an affluent and politically influential minority Sri Lankan Tamil family. His father G. G. Ponnambalam was a prominent defense attorney and the leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress, a party that was at times an ally of the ruling majority Sinhalese dominated United National Party in clear opposition to the Tamil Nationalistic tone of other Tamil political parties.
Kumar Ponnambalam joined his father's Tamil Congress Party as a young politician, and eventually rose to its senior leadership. After the demise of founder G. G. Ponnambalam however, the party became moribund and had little or no electoral support.
Kumar was noted for his appearances on behalf of youths apprehended by the state under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. He would work pro bono for both Tamil and Sinhalese clients. He was a Tamil Christian.
Later on, Kumar came to be known for his ardent press statements in support of the separatist militant group LTTE during the civil war, in contrast to the moderate Tamil United Liberation Front party line of supporting the then ruling People's Alliance front.
His son Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam is a former parliamentarian.
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