PM Modi awards Padma Shri to former Singaporean Diplomat

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PM Narendra Modi hands over the Padma Shri Award to veteran Singaporean diplomat Tommy Koh
PM Narendra Modi hands over the Padma Shri Award to veteran Singaporean diplomat Tommy Koh (Image: Twitter/PIB India)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today handed over the Padma Shri award, one of India's highest civilian awards, to former Singaporean diplomat Tommy Koh in Singapore.
Koh was among 10 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) receipts of the prestigious award this year.
Prof Tommy Koh, the former diplomat of Singapore, was handed over the Padma Shri award by Prime Minister Modi in the presence of Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The award was announced in January 2018 on the occasion of silver jubilee of India ASEAN partnership and our Republic Day.
- said Raveesh Kumar, Spokesperson at the Ministry of External Affairs.

TOMMY KOH: THE FORMER DIPLOMAT OF SINGAPORE

Koh, 80, has served as Singapore's ambassador to the US and the UN, and as president of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea in 1981 and 1982.
He is currently chairman of the board of governors of the Centre for International Law at the National University of Singapore.
Koh was the chief negotiator for the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement and was in the team that successfully argued the case for Singapore's claim to Pedra Branca at the International Court of Justice.
He is also a key figure in Singapore's semi-official strategic dialogues with Asia's three most powerful nations -- China, Japan and India.
Beyond diplomacy, Koh has also been a champion of the arts, the environment and civil society, and an outspoken advocate of civic engagement.
Koh said he is "very honoured and grateful" to receive the award.

ABOUT THE PADMA SHRI AWARD

Padma Shri award is the fourth highest civilian award in India after Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. It is announced every year on India's Republic Day and awarded annually by the Government of India.
It was established in 1954 and awarded for the same time in the same year.
(with inputs from PTI)

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