[1][3] Kanagasabai is believed to be a descendant of Ilankai Nayaga Mudaliyar of Karaikadu, one of the pioneer settlers of Jaffna peninsula.
[1] Kanagasabai was educated privately before being sent to Madras Christian College from where he graduated in 1878 with an arts degree.
[1][2][3] He was one of the leading supporters of constructing a new railway line to northern Ceylon.
[1][2][3] Kanagasabai was appointed to the Legislative Council of Ceylon in 1906 as the unofficial member representing Tamils, replacing W. G.
[1] He was a member of the Royal Asiatic Society, the Agricultural Society, the Board of Education, the Committee of the Victoria Home for Incurables and president of the Board of Directors of the Jaffna Commercial Corporation.