Sinnathamby Rajaratnam was the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Singapore between 1965 and 1980 and was the Deputy Prim Minister of Singapore between 1980 and 1985.

SINNATHAMBY RAJARATNAM

Rajaratnam is regarded as one of the founding fathers of independent Singapore as it achieved self-government in 1959 and later independence in 1965.

During his years in parliament, he served as Minister for Culture (1959), Minister for Foreign Affairs (1965-1980), Minister for Labour (1968-1971), and Second Deputy Prime Minister (1980-1985).

Rajaratnam was Singapore's first foreign minister, following its abrupt independence in 1965 and wrote the Singapore National Pledge in 1966.

Rajaratnam, together with the Foreign Ministers of Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Singapore officially formed ASEAN in 1967

25 February 1915

to 22 February 2006