Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government will construct a memorial for former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said.
He made this announcement, while addressing the Tamil diaspora in Singapore last night, during his official visit to Singapore and Japan to attract investments into the State.
The event was organised by associations of Singapore Tamils, in the presence of Singapore Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam.
Announcing construction of a memorial for Lee Kuan Yew, Mr. Stalin said the memorial would include a statue and a library.
The ‘Father of Singapore’ was impressed by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai, Mr Stalin said, recalling his father and former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s tributes when Lee Kuan Yew passed away.
inaugurating a scheme “Verkalai Thedi” (Tracing the roots) for overseas Tamil
youths, Mr Stalin said “I wish to share happy news with you now. We have decided to raise a memorial for Lee Kuan Yew in Tamil Nadu. It will come up at Mannargudi in Tamil Nadu.”
Stating that most of the Tamils living in Singapore belong to Mannargudi and Pattukottai, he said he was well aware that every household in Paravakottai, Koopachikottai, Tirumakottai, Ullikottai, Melathirupalakudi, Keelathirupalakudi, Alankottai, Neduvakottai and Melavasal villages in Delta has a connection with Singapore.
“People from these villages account for most of them living in Singapore. Hence, a library and statue will be constructed in memory of Lee Kuan Yew in Mannargudi,” he said.
Elaborating the historical connection between Tamil Nadu and Singapore, mainly the tenure of late S R Nathan as the President of the island nation, he referred to the requests received from the expatriate Tamils and assured that he would discuss and make a proper announcement after returning to Tamil Nadu.
The requests received by the CM include addition of literary works authored by Tamil writers in Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka in Tamil Nadu libraries and organizing a tour of Tamil Nadu to expatriate Tamil youths.
Dressed in the traditional Tamil attire, Mr.Stalin, along with Mr. Shanmugam and other dignitaries, witnessed cultural events organised on the occasion.
