| Honorific-Prefix: | Honourable |
| Sam A. Sabapathy | |
| Native Name: | சாம் அ. சபாபதி |
| Native Name Lang: | ta |
| Honorific-Suffix: | MMC |
| Order1: | 1st |
| Office1: | Mayor of Jaffna |
| Term Start1: | 6 January 1949 |
| Term End1: | 31 December 1949 |
| Successor1: | K. Ponnambalam |
| Term Start2: | 11 January 1952 |
| Term End2: | 31 December 1955 |
| Predecessor2: | K. Ponnambalam |
| Successor2: | Kadhi. M. A. M. M. Sulthan |
| Birth Date: | 6 September 1898 |
| Alma Mater: | St. John's College, Jaffna |
| Profession: | Lawyer |
| Blank1: | Ethnicity |
| Data1: | Ceylon Tamil |
Samuel Ariaretnam Sabapathy (8 September 1898 - 12 February 1964) was a Ceylon Tamil lawyer and the first Mayor of Jaffna.
Sabapathy was born on 8 September 1898.[1] He was the son of Kanagasabapathipillai from Varany and Annammah.[1] His brother S. Kulendran was Bishop of Jaffna.[1] Sabapathy was educated at St. John's College, Jaffna where he was head prefect, captain of the cricket team and member of the football team.[1]
Sabapathy married Kanakeswary, daughter of Nagalingam from Tholpuram.[1] They had a daughter (Padmini).[1]
Sabapathy joined the legal profession after finishing his education, becoming a proctor specialising in criminal law.[1] He practised law in Jaffna.[1]
Sabapathy was elected to Jaffna Urban Council, serving as its chairman between 1937 and 1939.[1] Jaffna was given municipality status in 1949 and Sabapathy became the city's first mayor.[1] [2] He is credited with creation of Jaffna Public Library, Subramaniam Park and Health Centre/Maternity Clinic.[1] Sabapathy laid the foundation stone for the library on 29 March 1953.[3] [4]
Sabapathy died on 12 February 1964.[1]