This website is dedicated to my beloved parents ……
BREIEF AUTOBIOGRAPHY
I am Nadarajah Sivaratnam, born on 25.02.1950 to Mr Vadivel Nadarajah and his spouse Valliammal Nee Sinniah Valliammal. I am the 7th son of my parents, who had six sons and one daughter who is the eldest. One of my elder brothers passed away during his childhood and I regret to mention that he met with his sudden death due to an accident on a Deepawali day .
I was born in the Village of Athikovilady in Valvettithurai. This area in Valvettiturai was considered an underdeveloped one and the people here lacked educational facilities due to poverty, mainly.
Due to poverty in general, they could not afford to give their children good education in Schools elsewhere. As such, majority of them including the children were engaged in self employment activities for their livelihood.
MY PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
As an exception to others in the Small Village, my parents encouraged me to continue my studies beyond primary level. But lacking proper guidance in the secondary level, I completed the G C E (O/L) Examination in the, then prevailing 03 Sections.That is Science, Commerce and Arts in 21 subjects including Sanskrit.
If proper guidance would have been there, I would have concentrated in one Section only and would have spent my time in the Advanced Study of that particular Section only where I could have graduated well ahead of time.
Any way, this is also better in some way. Now, I have knowledge of 21 Subjects unlike the normal student who followed only one Course. (Please refer to my full autography for details as to how I achieved this task).
There is a saying in Tamil that “Fate decides on one’s better half and the tutor”. Accordingly, I couldn’t complete my English Exam while in School due to lack of a proper Tutor in that language (I completed this Examination after joining the Bank at a later stage).
Thereafter, following several Courses in various Tutories, I got admission to A/L Science in Chithampara College,although I was refused admission for Science Stream in the O/L Class in the same College.
MY JOB OPPORTUNITIES
While studying in the A/L Science Stream in the year 1969, my mind was exploring possibilities for any job opportunities due to the financial status of my family.
As such, I used to visit the Post Office very often and refer the Govt. Gazette for any job opportunities.
During that time, I came across three job opportunities for which I was eligible to apply. Those being Asst. Post Master, Asst. Shroff in Kachcheri and Asst. Cashier Cum Clerk at Bank of Ceylon.
I applied for all those and was lucky to have been selected for all three. Unable to decide on the suitable job out of the three, I sought advice from my Scouts Teacher Mr R Rasanayagam who lived in the East Road, Valvettiturai. He sternly advised me to join the Bank of Ceylon.
Accordingly, I joined the Bank of Ceylon as an Asst. Cashier. From then on, I switched over my interest to the Banking Sector.
After serving branches in several areas and subsequent to my promotion as Sub Manager, I was assigned to Jaffna Second Branch (Stanley Road Branch) in that capacity.
While serving in that Branch, my inner desire for higher education emerged.
After being inspired by my friend Late Pon. Balakumar who was serving in the Chunnakam Branch and the Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna Pon. Balasundarampillai, I was selected for an External Degree Course in the Jaffna University although I didn’t have the A/L qualification, but for the reason that I had a Banking Degree which was considered a higher qualification than the A/L.
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
From then on, my path to higher education was steady and smooth and I obtained the following Degree Courses:
(i) Bachelor of Arts (General Degree 1997) at the age of 47
(ii) Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration (Merit Pass – 2001) at the age of 51 years.
After achieving my long term inner desire for higher education, I attended Convocation Ceremonies along with graduates whose ages were equivalent to those of my children.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
(i) Associate Member of the Bankers’ Training Institute (AIB) was received on completion of the Banking Degree
(ii) Fellow of the Institute of Bankers (FIB).
Awarded for the Service Excellence in the Banking Sector and in recognition as the Institute’s Honorary Member of the Executive Level.
(iii) Outstanding Bank Employee of the year 2002.
Awarded by the Northern Province Bank Pensioners’ Welfare Association.
(iv) Most Outstanding Professional for the year 2008.
The above prestigious Certificate was awarded to me by the Centre for Leadership Excellence and Personality Development, a Colombo based Organization, in the year 2008.
In the Banking Career, I was elevated to the prestigious position of Asst. General Manager (Northern Province) in the year 2008 and retired at the age of 60 after a meritorious Service of 40 long years.
After retirement, now I am engaged in social activities for the betterment of my Society in various fields.
CAREER PATH IN BOC
1970 – 1976 – Asst. Cashier
1977 – 1983 – Gr. IV Officer (Supervisor)
1984 – 1988 – Gr.III Cl.3 Officer (Sub Manager)
1989 – 2001 – Asst. Manager
2001 – 2003 – Branch Manager
2003 – 2004 – Area Manager
2004 – 2007 – Chief Manager(O.M’s Grade)
2008 – 2010 – Assistant General Manager (AGM)
My life span upto now can be divided into two major Divisions viz.,
(a) As a Banker
(b) As a Social Worker
It is pertinent to mention here and also, I consider it as a duty on my part to mention the following Officer who gave me able assistance and guidance in both paths.
First of all, I place on record the name of the Former DGM of Bank of Ceylon and later the Advisor to the Governor – Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Mr K Sivagananathan who was the prime root for all my achievements in the Bank and Banking related higher studies. I owe a salute to him since I would not have reached this higher level in the Bank, if not for his guidance and assistance.
Secondly, I carry my sincere thanks in my heart for ever to the following Officers who gave their fullest support and assistance while I was in the Bank.
1. Mr B J Vincent (Rtd. AGM – NP, BoC)
2. Mr K Balasubramaniam (Rtd. AGM – NP, BoC)
3. Mr B A Arumainayagam (Rtd. AGM – NP, BoC)
Similarly, I respectfully remember the following personalities who were my guides in every respect for the social activities I was engaged in:
1. Late Mr S.Gnanamoorthy (J.P. & Former Chairman – Urban Council, VVT)
2. Late Mr V. Velummylum (From VVT who is known as Rtd. AGA and one of the most prominent and popular Civil Servant during the most turbulent days of the war situation)
In addition to my being identified in my Society as an Educationist and Banker, my younger brother Mr Nadarajah Ariyaratnam too, graduated in the 1970s and joined the educational field and ended up as a Director of Education. He now lives in Canada. He is an ardent devotee of Selvachannathy Murugan and has published and is publishing several books on Lord Muruga.
These particulars can be viewed elsewhere in my Website.
In the year 1978, I married Nalini (Vasanthy), daughter of Mr Sivalingam (Mahalingam) and Mrs Arunthathy Sivalingam of Valvettithurai
I have three children namely:
1. Eldest (daughter) – Mrs Pratheeba Sasikumar (Teacher)
2. Second (son) – Mr S Saruban (Industrialist)
3. Third (daughter) – Miss S Karunya (Asst. Manager – Peoples Bank)
Mrs Pratheeba Sasikumar (Teacher) Family
Mr S Saruban And Mrs Visanthini couple (Industrialist)
Miss S Karunya (Asst Manager – Peoples Bank)