Department of Tamil
To learn, you must have the tools to teach. To teach, you must know which tools to use. At Annamalai Canada, our faculty is comprised of world class professors and lecturers from around the world with program knowledge that will give you the edge in learning.
Our Faculty
Prof. Balasundaram Elayathamby, Ph.D
Prof. Balasundaram Elayathamby, Ph.D, is a well known scholar among the academic community for his research and publications in Tamil Studies. He gained Senior Commonwealth Fellowship to do post-doctoral research at the University of Sheffield, England. He also, received various scholarships to do Tamil studies and Folklore research at universities in Russia, USA and Tamil Nadu. Prof. Balasundaram has published 15 research books. Three of his books received first prizes for best research in Canada, Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. He is an excellent educator and a social reformer at the helm of various community and cultural organizations. He has presented in various international conferences. Prof. Balasundaram immigrated to Canada from Sri Lanka where he was Professor and Head of the Tamil Department in the University of Jaffna and the University of Colombo.
Dr. Mrs. Selvanayaki Sridas BA, MA, PhD
Senior Lecturer
Dr. Mrs. Selvanayaki Sridas graduated from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, in BA Honours majoring in Tamil. She has also completed her MA in Tamil from Annamalai University and earned her PhD in Tamil from Annamalai University as well. Dr. Sridas has lectured at the University of Ceylon and is currently lecturing BA and MA Tamil programs at Annamalai Canada Campus. She has been the Administrator of Annamalai Canada Campus serving from 2015 to 2021. Dr. Sridas secured appointment as an Asst.Assessor in the Inland Revenue Department of Sri Lanka and while serving as a Senior Assessor was awarded a UN Fellowship to Harvard University to Specialize in International Taxation and has retired as a Finance Officer from Toronto Arts Council as well. She has also published two books about Tamil.
Ponniah Vivekananthan, BA, MA
Senior Lecturer
Mr. Vivekananthan obtained his Bachelor and Masters Degree from the Madras University pursuing studies in Tamil Literature through Pachaiappah’s College. He is now working towards a PhD in Tamil.He now works for the multi-lingual project of the Toronto District School Board while also lecturing at the Annamalai Canada Campus. He has also been appointed as a Lecturer in Tamil at Seneca College. With over 20 years of experience teaching Tamil in Canada, he has been appointed as a part time Lecturer (Introductory Tamil 1 & 2) at the University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus.A writer , as he is, he also functions as an Advisor for the Monthly publication, Thai Veedu.
Mr. Sinniah Sivanesan, B,Sc, B.Ed ,Diploma in ESL ,OCT.
Senior Lecturer
Mr. Sivanesan Sinniah is a prolific writer in English and Tamil. He has written many feature articles on science and Hinduism, short stories, poems, stage plays and radio plays. He has been producing and directing stage plays in Sri Lanka and Toronto. He is also a freelance program producer in television and radio. He has conducted many interviews and talk shows on radio and TV. Presently he is
conducting a program in Geethavani with Dr.Lambotharan titled “Vinganamum Meignanamum” every Sunday. Sivanesan Master is a retired School Community Advisor of Toronto District school board and York Region District School Board. He is an Emeritus Principal of Kopay Christian College, Sri Lanka. He has published six books in Tamil and a book of children poems in English and Tamil. His short stories which were published in Monsoon Journal (Toronto) last year is being printed as a book entitled "Pearl Necklace”.
Mr. Somasundaram Kathirgamanthan, BA, MA
Mr. Somasundaram Srikathirgamanathan holds a Masters degree in Linguistics from University of Kelaniya. He has followed a program in MA in Applied Linguistics and TESOL from the University of Leicester UK but not completed. He has participated in a MA TESL program at at the OUSL, Naqwala, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka and could not complete due to migration to Canada from Sri Lanka. He also holds a Diploma in Education and Bachelor of Science as well as Post Graduate Diploma in English Language Teaching from University of Jaffna. He is presently teaching Secondary and Post-Secondary level English online and work as a interpreter and translator for MAG & IRB. Mr. Srikanthirgamanthan has been teaching in Canada at Private School since 2001. TESL Ontario & TESL Canada Certified supply LINC Instructor.. Attended several Local and international conferences on English Language Teaching and Linguistics related ones in Sri Lanka and UK.