[1] He mainly worked and studied in his birthplace in Jaffna where he established his photographic business S.K.

He was granted a 14-year English patent for his work on preparing paper to prevent its injury during development of the photos.

[1] Lawton wrote about the use of fish glue in The Penrose Annual where he discusses how its oxidation over time causes it to gradually make the enamel of the photographic paper tender.

[3] He is also the father of Kalaiarasu Kanagaratnam Chornalingam who pioneered acting in Sri Lanka.

[citation needed] Lawton married twice and is an ancestor of Russel Arnold, a former Sri Lankan cricket player.