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Indian tycoon Ratan Tata dies aged 86

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Indian tycoon Ratan Tata has died aged 86, says the Tata Group, the conglomerate he led for more than two decades.

Tata was one of India’s most internationally recognised business leaders.

The Tata Group is one of India’s largest companies, with annual revenues in excess of $100bn (£76.5bn).

In a statement announcing Tata’s death, the current chairman of Tata Sons described him as a “truly uncommon leader”.

Natarajan Chandrasekaran added: “On behalf of the entire Tata family, I extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones.

“His legacy will continue to inspire us as we strive to uphold the principles he so passionately championed.”

During his tenure as chairman of the Tata Group, the conglomerate made several high-profile acquisitions, including the takeover of Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus, UK-based car brands Jaguar and Land Rover, and Tetley, the world’s second-largest tea company.

UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said in tribute that Tata was a “titan of the business world” who “played a huge role in shaping British industry”.

A profile published in the Economist magazine in 2011 called Tata a “titan”, crediting him with transforming the family group into “a global powerhouse”.

“He owns less than 1% of the group that bears his family name. But he is a titan nonetheless: the most powerful businessman in India and one of the most influential in the world,” the magazine said.

In 2012, he retired as chairman of the group and was appointed chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, the group’s holding company.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Tata as a “visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being”.

Paying tribute on X, formerly known as Twitter, Modi recounted “countless interactions” with Tata and said he was “extremely pained” by his death.

Tata was born in a traditional Parsi family in 1937. He studied architecture and structural engineering at Cornell University in the US.

In 1962, he joined Tata Industries – the promoter company of the group – as an assistant and spent six months training at a company plant in Jamshedpur.

From here, he went on to work at the Tata Iron and Steel Company (now Tata Steel), Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and National Radio and Electronics (Nelco).

In 1991, JRD Tata, who had led the group for over half a century, appointed Ratan Tata as his successor. “He [JRD Tata] was my greatest mentor… he was like a father and a brother to me – and not enough has been said about that,” Tata later told an interviewer.

In 2008, the Indian government awarded him the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian honour.

Peter Casey, author of The Story of Tata, described Tata as a “modest, reserved and even shy man” who had a “stately calm” about him and a “fierce discipline”.

He was drawn into a rare unsavoury controversy in 2016, when his successor as Tata Sons chairman, Cyrus Mistry, was ousted from the role, sparking a bitter management feud. Mistry died in a car crash in 2022.

The business tycoon also had a lighter side to him. His love for fast cars and planes was well-known – the Tata group website describes these as some of his “enduring passions”.

Tata was also a scuba diving enthusiast, a hobby that fizzled with age “as his ears could take the pressure no more”.

He was also a dog lover and fondly remembered the many pets who gave him company over the decades.

“My love for dogs as pets is ever strong and will continue for as long as I live,” the industrialist said in a 2021 interview.

“There is an indescribable sadness every time one of my pets passes away and I resolve I cannot go through another parting of that nature. And yet, two-three years down the road, my home becomes too empty and too quiet for me to live without them, so there is another dog that gets my affection and attention, just like the last one,” he said.

He was also often praised for his simplicity. In 2022, a video of him travelling in a Nano car – one of the world’s cheapest cars, now mostly remembered as one of Tata’s failed dreams – went viral on social media.

(BBC)

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President meets ex-South African President Thabo Mbeki   

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President Anura Kumara Disanayake met with former President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr. Thabo Mbeki, this afternoon (June 26) at the Presidential Secretariat.

Mr. Mbeki, who is on his first visit to Sri Lanka, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to visit the country, stating that he has long followed Sri Lanka’s efforts toward national unity and reconciliation with keen interest. He noted that he was pleased to visit Sri Lanka at this significant moment.

Although South Africa and Sri Lanka are geographically distant, the former President observed that both nations share similarities in their multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multicultural compositions. He added that both countries face similar challenges in achieving peace and reconciliation and expressed his willingness to share lessons learned and experiences from South Africa’s own reconciliation journey.

Mr. Mbeki stated his confidence in President Disanayake’s ability to unite Sri Lanka’s diverse communities and overcome current economic and reconciliation related challenges.

President Disanayake reaffirmed his commitment to fostering national harmony and reconciliation while leading the country forward amidst economic challenges. He emphasized that he remains dedicated to building unity among all ethnic groups and steering the nation toward stability and progress.

Also present at the meeting were South African High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Sandile Schalk, Chief Executive Officer of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, Maxwell Boqwana  and the Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Lukhanyo Neer.

Representing Sri Lanka were Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala and Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Roshan Gamage.

Executive Group Director of The Capital Maharaja Group, Chevaan Daniel and Group Manager Anushka Lewke also joined the occasion.

(President’s Media Division)

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UN Human Rights chief calls to repeal Online Safety Act & PTA moratorium

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United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has called for the repealing of the Online Safety Act while also imposing a moratorium on enforcement of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

Addressing a media conference in Colombo before concluding his visit to Sri Lanka,  the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called for an expedited review and release of long-term PTA detainees and prisoners.

The UN Rights Chief said, “I also call for the moratorium of the use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and urge an expedited review and release of long-term PTA detainees and prisoners.”

“I also understand that a bill proposing the decriminalization of same sex relationships is before parliament and I hope it will be passed soon”, he added.  

In addition, he also called for police reforms in the country.

Meanwhile, a media release by the President’s Media Division states that the UN Rights Chief has expressed his complete support for the direction Sri Lanka is pursuing under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Disanayake to strengthen national unity, promote reconciliation and safeguard Human Rights.

During a meeting with President Anura Kumara Disanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon (June 26), the UN Rights Chief has commended the current political and social transformation taking place in the country and noted that people in both the North and the South have placed strong confidence in the President and the Government. Mr. Volker Türk stated that during his visit to Sri Lanka, he was able to gain a clear understanding of the on-going transformation taking place in the country. He expressed his belief that the people of Sri Lanka are now placing a renewed optimism for a brighter future.

The issue of missing persons was also discussed in detail. The High Commissioner observed that families of the missing whether in the North or the South share the same pain and emphasized the expectation of the UN Human Rights Office that the Sri Lankan Government will honour the trust these families have placed in it.

The discussion further stressed the importance of strengthening and restructuring the institutional framework responsible for addressing the issue of missing persons. It was noted that past political cultures had hindered these institutions from effectively delivering on public expectations and protecting the rights of citizens.

In his remarks, President Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that, as a political movement that has directly faced the experience of the missing persons his administration has a deep understanding of their pain.

The President emphasized that his government is fully committed to implementing the necessary reforms to ensure national unity, foster reconciliation and safeguard human rights across the country.

The President also emphasized that restoring economic stability remains a top priority of his administration. While recognizing the scale of the current challenges, the President reiterated his Government’s strong determination to address them and called for the continued support of the international community.

President Disanayake further said that international cooperation, including the support of the UN Human Rights Office and other global institutions, is essential for accurately conveying Sri Lanka’s actual circumstances to the global community and improving the nation’s international reputation.

Also present at the meeting were several senior officials from the United Nations, including UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche, Chief of the Asia-Pacific Section of Global Operations Division Office of the High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR) Rory Mungoven, Desk Officer of OHCHR Elaine Chan, Senior Human Rights Adviser at the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator Laila Nazarali, Development Coordination Officer, Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator Azam Bakeer Markar and Public Information Officer of the OHCHR Anthony Headley.

Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara, Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala and Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, among other officials.

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CIB Big City fined Rs. 1 mn. for selling overpriced bottled water

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CIB Big City, a private business outlet in Maharagama, has been fined Rs. 1 million by the Gangodawila Magistrate’s Court today (June 26) for selling overpriced bottled water.

A case was filed against the business outlet following a raid carried out by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) officials on May 09, 2025.

During the raid, officials had discovered that a 500 ml bottle of water has been sold at Rs. 90 despite the MRP being declared as Rs. 70 by a gazette notification published on April 01, 2025.

The store is a part of the well known fashion chain – Wijaya Group, which is chaired by Mr. K.R.G Wijesundera.

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