Rudra Rajasingham

Summary

Rudra Srichandra Rajasingham (2 April 1926 – 24 March 2006) was a Sri Lankan police officer and diplomat. He was the Inspector General of Police and Sri Lankan Ambassador to Indonesia.

Rudra Rajasingham
Born(1926-04-02)2 April 1926
Died24 March 2006(2006-03-24) (aged 79)
Alma materHartley College
C.M.S. Ladies' College, Colombo
Trinity College, Kandy
University of Ceylon
Police career
AllegianceSri Lanka
DepartmentSri Lanka Police Service
RankInspector General of Police
Other workSri Lankan Ambassador to Indonesia

Early life and family edit

Rajasingham was born on 2 April 1926.[1] He was the son of surgeon A. S. Rajasingham and Noble Rajasingham.[1][2] He was educated at Hartley College, C.M.S. Ladies' College, Colombo and Trinity College, Kandy.[1][3] He was a school prefect and member of the cricket and rugby teams at Trinity College.[1][2][4] After school he joined the University of Ceylon, Colombo from where he graduated with a degree in English, History and Economics.[1] He played cricket and rugby for the university too.[2][5]

Rajasingham married Sita.[2] They had a daughter (Sharminie).[2]

Career edit

Rajasingham joined the Ceylon Police Force in 1949 as a probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police.[1][2] He worked at several police stations including Tangalle, Mannar and Colombo.[1] He rose up the ranks and in 1982 he was appointed Inspector General of Police, the most senior police officer post in the country.[1] He was a Sri Lankan representative at the Thimpu peace talks with Sri Lankan Tamil militant groups in 1985.[2]

Rajasingham was head of the Police Sports Club and its rugby section.[4] He also played for Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club, served as its president in 1971 and made life member in 1974.[4][6]

Later life edit

After retirement Rajasingham was appointed Sri Lankan Ambassador to Indonesia in 1985.[1][2] He was later chairman of the State Mortgage Bank and a member of the first Commission to Investigate Allegations Bribery and Corruption.[1][2][7]

Rajasingham was president of Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union between 1993 and 1994.[2][4]

Rajasingham died on 24 March 2006 at the Police Hospital in Colombo.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Arumugam, S. (1997). Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon. p. 154.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j de Alwis, Sharm (7 April 2006). "Rudra Rajasingham - the quintessential cop". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 3 July 2013.
  3. ^ "Well done Hartley!". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka). 27 October 2002. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Rudra, Godfather of Police Rugby is no more". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka). 26 March 2006.
  5. ^ Sivendran, S. (23 March 2013). "Golden Years of Police Sports". The Island (Sri Lanka).
  6. ^ Wijesekera, Bernie (3 April 2006). "Rudra Rajasingham, pioneer of Police rugby". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 3 July 2013.
  7. ^ "History of the Commission". Commission to Investigate Allegations Bribery and Corruption.