Two Sri Lankan Tamils in Forbes Billionaire List
by Rifat Halim
Two people of Sri Lankan Tamil origin were named in the Forbes Billionaire list, released on 11th March 2009. Forbes magazine presents an annual list of the world's richest people. Both are major investors in their country of origin.
Mr.T Ananda Krishnan, a Malaysian of Sri Lankan Tamil origin, was named the 62nd richest person in the world and the richest Malaysian. The 70 year-old Harvard Business School graduate's personal fortune was estimated at US$ 7 billion.He was previosly ranked 119th richest person in the world. Though Mr Krishnan has risen in the rankings, the credit crunch has taken its toll on his personal wealth. His fortune fell by US$400 million, which is a lot smaller than the losses suffered by others in the Billionaire List.
Mr. Ananda Krishnan's father Mr. Tatparanandam, a Malayan civil servant, hailed from Vaddukkodai in Northern Sri Lanka. Last year, Mr. Krishnan acquired a controlling stake in Sri Lanka Telecom for US$300 m, representing his first foray in his country of origin.
His holdings include Maxis Communications, Malaysia's largest cell-phone service provider, with more than six million subscribers; now entering the Indian cell-phone market. His Measat satellites help telecoms and broadcasters reach customers and audiences across Southeast Asia, China, South Asia and Australia. He also controls racetrack betting and lottery systems in Malaysia via Tanjong Public.Last year, he sold Excel, the exhibition venue in London’s Docklands, and bought a 20% stake in Johnston Press in London.
Mr. Raj Rajaratnam, the New York-based founder of the Galleon hedge fund, made his first appearence in the Forbes Billionaire list. He was ranked the 559th richest person, with an estimated fortune of US$1.3 billion. Mr. Rajaratnam is a major investor in the Sri Lankan stock market. The Sri Lankan-born investor recently held over 10% of the shares in John Keells Holdings, Sri Lanka's leading conglomerate. Mr. Rajaratnam is the son of David Rajaratnam, former Managing Director of Singer (Sri Lanka) and a graduate of Wharton Business School
10 Comments
Dont be surpriced, Tamils are hard working people. within another ten years time more TAMIL BILLIONARES on the card guys. They deserve it, Tamil ealam will be prosperous nation in civilized world.
Dear Srilankan Government
they are only tamils
please don't lable them as LTTE
THANKS
I know Raj Rajaratnam very well. His son went to Royal College, Colombo. They are the John Keells Holdings owners. These people have nothing to do with Eelam and LTTE.
Just because one is a Tamil, you cannot assume he/she supports Eelam.
54% of Sri Lanka's Tamils live in the South with the other ethnic groups, and they would not want to move to a Tamil Eelam state.
Mr krishnan or Mr raj ratnam they made there wealth with sh ere hard work.and its not easy who ever earns it knows the pain.as such being Tamils whole community should be proud of them.by promoting sides as eelam will prosper or separate state will prosper only damages the image of these grate business people.remember if wanna do business there should not be sides.these are the downfalls of economics of world when unwanted sides are taken.Mr krishnan and Mr raj ratnam may your wealth prosper and be proud sri lankan expatriates.next time may you rank NO 1 in the world.
calvin cricket,
" and they would not want to move to a Tamil Eelam state."
and you know this.. how? but, I hasten to add, you're likely to be right, not in the present conditions. It would depend on the conditions prevailing in the said state.
There are Tamils who as hardworking and as able as these men and could be billionaires if they wish to but instead devote their efforts to academia and public service. Personally, I am more proud of them.
I aplaud these two Gentlemen being a Sinhalese myself. I aplaud all Sri Lankan expats who have come to be of good stature overseas. I believe they are good sons of Sri Lanka, especially after seeing them re-invest in their Mother Land. Well done guys, I also welcome other expats to do the same. Me being one of them.
Calvin,
News flash. The majority of Tamils in Sril Lanka do want a seperate state as they are sick and tired of being discriminated against by the Singhalese majoprity. These guys would not have made their billions had they remained in their mother land.
You don't see any Singhalese in the Forbes billinaire list. Do you know why? Singahlese generally aim to attain mediocrity and want other Sri Lankans to be the same as them. If being discriminated by Singhalese is not bad enough, Tamils also need to up with the incompetant Sri Lankan government, who manage their economy like a third world market stall. Better for Tamils to have their own land and manage their own destiny, before Sri Lanka's economy starts tanks, yet again....
Sanjay
I am proud to see this I am from India myself I love tamil people they are so hardworking. Like the Jews they have been discriminated severely in SriLanka. I know for sure in the next 10 years you will see a significant increase in tamil millionaires and billionaires this is going to be evident because they are extremely educated and have a strong work ethic
as a srilankan i know Tamils are hard working people. They are hard working than sinhalese.Thats why Jafna was well developed before.but Tamil is a race.not a country.Sri Lanka is a country.All the lives in SriLanka belong to SriLanka.Tamils or Sinhalese.not to a part of the country or not for a racialist part.proud they have srilankan origin.