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Personal Biography
Rear Admiral Rajan Kadirgamar, MVO.
Rear Admiral Rajanathan "Rajan" Kadirgamar was born in 1922, the son of Samuel Jebaratnam Christian Kadirgamar and Edith Rosemand Parimalam Kadirgamar, daughter of Edward Ponnusamy Mather. He served in the Ceylon Royal Navy. As a Naval Cadet, he took the sword of honour at the passing out parade at Trincomalee in 1941. As a Sub-Lieutenant, he saw action off the coast of Burma with the Royal Navy. He was awarded Star and Burma Star for war service from 1939-1945.
He had four brothers named Samuel Jothinathan Kadirgamar Jr. QC, Major Selvanathan (Bhai) Kadirgamar was in the Ceylon Army, Lakshman Kadirgamar, PC former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Thirumalan Kadirgamar and a sister named Iswari Kadirgamar
Rear Admiral Rajanathan (Rajan) Kadirgamar married Rajeswari (Girlie) Kunaratnam, daughter of Dr. I.T. Kunaratnam. They had two daughters. The eldest daughter, Lakshmi Kadirgamar married Capt. Arjuna Wijayatilake and they have two daughters named Savitri and Sharadha. Their second daughter Sharmala Kadirgamar married Ralph Kanagasingham and they have two children, a daughter named Shobana and a son named Jehan.
After that, he was appointed as the first Commanding Officer of H.M.Cy.S. VIJAYA. Also Extra ADC, to Governor’s, they were Governor General Soulbury, Governor General Sir Oliver Goonetilleke, and Governor General William Gopallawa. Promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 1949, Commander in 1955, Captain in 1959, and temporary Commodore in 1960 (Confirmed 1964).
Rajan Kadirgamar was appointed Commander of the Navy at the young age of 40 years. He was later promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral. In addition, he was appointed as working director at Port Cargo Corporation and he retired on 1 July 1970. Thirumathi Rajeswari Kadirgamar passed away July 2003 in Nawala.