[1][2] After school Sivathamby joined the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya in 1953, studying under K. Kanapathypillai and graduating with B.A.
[2][3] Sivathamby received a Ph.D. degree from the University of Birmingham in 1970 after producing thesis, supervised by George Derwent Thomson, on drama in ancient Tamil society.
[3][4] Sivathamby worked as a simultaneous interpreter at the House of Representatives of Ceylon before teaching at Zahira College.
[3][4][7] Sivathamby was chairman of the Coordinating Committee of Citizens of North and East of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Refugee Rehabilitation Organisation (1986–98).
[3] Sivathamby died on 6 July 2011 at his home in Dehiwala, Colombo following a heart attack.