J. M. Rajaratnam

Jesuthasan Mylvaganam Rajaratnam (23 December 1927 – 16 June 2014) was a Sri Lankan Tamil accountant and corporate executive.

Early life and family Rajaratnam was born on 23 December 1927. He was the son of A. J. Mylvaganam from Alvai near Point Pedro in northern Ceylon.

After school Rajaratnam joined the University of Ceylon, graduating with an honours degree in chemistry.

Rajaratnam married Rajeswari Muttucumaru. He was chairman and CEO of Singer's operations in Ceylon in the 1970s before being promoted to Vice-President Asia Region for the Singer Company in 1976. During his time in Ceylon he helped establish numerous small businesses in the north of the country. He moved to the USA after being appointed Singer's Vice-President of Finance and Accounting.

After retirement Rajaratnam was involved in various philanthropic projects and was chairman of the Rajaratnam Charity Foundation. He was president of the Illankai Tamil Sangam of the USA, vice-president of the World Tamil Organisation and founding member of the Welfare & Human Rights Committee USA. He was also a consultant to the World Bank, member of the Roster of Experts on matters related to transnational corporations of the United Nations and a member of the US Executive Volunteer Service Corp.

Rajaratnam died on 16 June 2014 in New Jersey.