Sithambaram Kandiyar Durairajah

Very popularly was known in Ceylon as the Kathirgama Kandiyar and VSDR Kandiyar born on the 5th August 1905 to Vadamalai Sithambaram Kandiyar and Anjalai Ammal. The first to establish the Kallar Maga Sabai in 1942 at Kandy in Ceylon. He was the President elect from 1942 to till his death on 24th December 1970. According to available information the Membership of the Kallar Maga Sabai crossed 13000 in 1969. It was recorded in the Annual General Meeting of the Kallar Maga Sabai on the 14th September 1969 that the Kallar Maga Sabai should expand its activities to other regions of Ceylon to increase its member ship to 15000 by September 1970. Many of the Members of the Organization were Estate Owners or holding high positions in various Private sector establishments and Government Departments in Ceylon. Unfortunately the coomunal violence which took place in 1970 in Ceylon totally paralyzed the Kallar maga Sabai and it came to a stand still after the death of its founder member in December 1970.


Some of the names of members of the Kallar Maga Sabai as from the available Records at the Registras General office in Kandy are as follows:

1. Sithambaram Kandiyar Durairajah – Founder & Elected President (28 Years) till his death.Owner of 6 Estates having Coconut, Cocoa, Pepper, Cardamom and Rubber Plantations.

2. Vijaya Thevar Subbiah – General Secretary elect for more than 27 years.
Owner of Kambli Stores. Watthugamam.

3. Govindasamy Gangainattar – Treasurer elect for more than 20 years
Owner of Tennapittiya Estate. Malpana.

4. Gopala Rajapiriyar – Life Member for more than 28 years.

Owner of Coshina Estate. Ampitiya. Kandy

5. P.Karuppiah Kalingarayar – Life member for more than 26 years.
Owner of Aluvihara Estate Matale.

6. V. Rathinam Kilamudaiyar. Life member for More than 25 Years
Owner of Granlee Estate. Lindulla.

7. A Narayanasamy Thanjirayar. Life member for more than 25 Years.
Owner of Hunthana Estate. Uduwela. Kandy.

8. Karuppiah Thondaiman Soumiyamoorthy. Vice President and Life member for 20 Years.
Owner of Wavendon Group. Ramboda and the founder of Ceylon Workers Congress

Mr.Durairajah Kandiyar was responsible for the establishement of the First Cooperative Society in Malapana in Ceylon and registered himself as the 1st Member in the Society.

Built and Established the Rajawella Methodist Mission School in Pallekella Village which became the High school in the area after 20 Years and now fully controlled by the Government of Sri Lanka with a student population of more than 2000. Elected as the President of the Parent Teachers Association for more than 35 Years. Build a Mariamman Temple in his Village (Malpana) and the First Buddhist Temple (Known as Pansala) in his village.

Elected as the Managing Trustee for the Pilliyar Kovil at Kandy and held the Position till his death.Elected as the Managing Trustee for the Kathirgamam Devanai Amman Temple, Selva Vinayagar Temple, Sella kathirgamam Temple, Santhana Malai and Valli Malai temple etc, the positions which he held till his death. Donated lands of more than 1500 Acres for the colonization scheme of the Govt. of Ceylon for the land less poor people. Build and maintained more than 20 Wells and 11 Ambalams for travelers to rest and proceed in various Villages near to his home town.  

After his death on 21st December 1970 the family shifted to various parts of the world and few living now in India.