New citizen wishes Lee Kuan Yew, Lee Hsien Loong and Ho Ching would be “reborn” in his native Sri Lanka

Facebook user Chaitri Hapugalle, a naturalised Singapore citizen, expressed his desire that Singapore founding PM Lee Kuan Yew and his family would be “reborn” in his home country of Sri Lanka so that Sri Lanka could one day be as “mighty” as Singapore.

Monday (16 Sept) marked what would have been the late Mr Lee’s 96th birthday. Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat shared a video of an old speech Mr Lee made in 1965 on the occasion of Mr Lee’s birth anniversary.

Mr Heng asserted that Mr Lee’s “exemplary vision and far-sighted planning has led to the bustling metropolis and world-class city-state we have today” and that Singapore is “still a work-in-progress” 54 years after the nation’s independence.

Mr Heng’s post calling on Singaporeans to continue to be united in building Singapore swiftly accumulated over 35,000 views. One of the people who appreciated Mr Heng’s tribute to Mr Lee is Chaitri Hapugalle.

In a comment published on Mr Heng’s Facebook post, Chaitri thanked the latter for his “heartwarming tribute” and said Mr Heng reminds him “so much” of the late Mr Lee who was a “truly committed politician.”

Expressing his devotion to Mr Lee, Chaitri wrote: “Every time I focus on Sri Lanka, I can’t help but wish that the Lee family was born or will be reborn in Sri Lanka. And that one day Sri Lanka would be as mighty as Singapore.”

Chaitri went on to express his gratefulness for his “little red passport and the ability to learn, contribute, and enjoy” and blessed “Hon PM Lee Hsien Loong, Madam Ho Ching, the children.” He added that he is sharing Mr Heng’s post with “great pride.”