Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa offered his condolences on the death of former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, adding that his legacy will live on in Asia.

“Saddened by death of former Singapore PM Lee Kuan Yew. This visionary leader's legacy will live on in Asia. My condolences to his family” Rajapaksa said on his official Twitter handle.

Lee Kuan Yew passed away at Singapore General Hospital at 3.18a.m. (12.48a.m. Sri Lanka time) on Monday (23). Born on September 16, 1923, Lee led Singapore from 1959, first under British rule, then as a part of Malaysia and from 1965 onwards as an independent republic.

Lee Kuan Yew is credited with transforming a small city state into an economic powerhouse. Singapore is considered to be one of the ‘Asian Tigers’ or ‘Asian Dragons’ because of its economy. Lee was known as a ‘benevolent dictator’ and was authoritarian when dealing with opposition parties. His People’s Action Party rules Singapore from 1959.

Lee resigned from the post of Prime Minister in 1990 but was a Senior Minister in the Cabinet until 2011. His son Lee Hsien Loong has been the Prime Minister of the country from 2004.