| J. N. Arumugam | |
| Honorific Suffix: | CCS CBE |
| Birth Date: | 23 February 1896 |
| Alma Mater: | Jaffna Central College Ceylon Technical College |
| Occupation: | Civil servant |
Joseph Nalliah Arumugam (born 23 February 1896) was a leading Ceylon Tamil civil servant.
Arumugam was born on 23 February 1896.[1] He was from Katkovalam near Point Pedro in northern Ceylon. He was educated at Jaffna Central College.[1] He then studied science at Ceylon Technical College.[1] After passing the inter science examination he went to the UK on a scholarship. There, in December 1921, he joined the Ceylon Civil Service.[1]
Arumugam married a daughter of Muttucumaru and, following her death, Lilly Chelliah.[1]
Arumugam held several civil service positions in Ceylon and was a leading magistrate in Colombo.[1] [2] He became Petrol Controller in 1941 and Commissioner of Motor Transport in 1946.[1] He was later Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Works.[1] [3]
In the 1951 New Year Honours Arumugam was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.[4]
Arumugam died in the 1960s after retirement.[1]
In 1986 Arumugam's widow established an endowment to award scholarships for science students at the University of Colombo.[5]