S. Thandayuthapani

Thandayuthapani was born on 7 August 1950 and educated at R. K. M. Sri Koneswara Vidyalayam.^[1] He graduated with a degree in economics before training to be a teacher at Palali Guru Vidyalayam.^[1]

Thandayuthapani was a school principal before becoming a Director of Education and Additional Director of Education.^[1][2] He served as Secretary to the Ministry of Lands, Land Development, Education and Culture (Eastern Province) between 2010 and 2011.^[1]

Thandayuthapani contested the 2012 provincial council election as one of the Tamil National Alliance's candidates in Trincomalee District and was elected to the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC).^[3] On 28 September 2012 the TNA leadership unanimously selected Thandayuthapani to be the Leader of the Opposition on the EPC.^[1][4] Thandayuthapani and the other newly elected TNA provincial councillors took their oaths on 28 September 2012 in front of TNA leader and Member of Parliament R. Sampanthan.^[1]

Following the 2015 presidential election an all party provincial government was formed in the Eastern Province.^[5][6][7] Thandayuthapani took his oath as Minister of Education in front of Governor Austin Fernando on 3 March 2015.^[8][9]