Sellapan Ramanathan (born July 3, 1924) is the sixth and current President of the Republic of Singapore. Often referred to as S. R. Nathan, he was first sworn in on September 1, 1999.

Early life
Nathan is a Singaporean of Indian Tamil descent; his childhood was spent with his three older sisters and parents, V. Sellapan and Apiram, in Muar, Johor, in a house overlooking the sea. His father had been posted to the Malayan town as a lawyer's clerk for a firm that serviced rubber plantations, but the rubber slump of the 1930s sent the family's fortunes crashing. Nathan's father accrued debts, and eventually lost his job.
By then the young Nathan had returned to his birthplace, Singapore, to live with an uncle, and received his early education in several Anglo-Chinese Schools, such as the Rangoon Road Afternoon School, and later Victoria School. He started working before completing his studies. During the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, Nathan worked for the Japanese civilian police as a translator. After the war, whilst working, he completed his secondary education through self-study, and entered the University of Malaya (then in Singapore) where he graduated in 1954 with a Diploma in Social Studies (Distinction).

Civil service career
Nathan began his career in the Singapore Civil Service as a medical social worker in 1955. He was appointed Seamen's Welfare Officer the following year. In 1962, he was seconded to the Labour Research Unit of the Labour Movement, first as Assistant Director and later Director of the Labour Research Unit until January 1966. He continued as a Member of its Board of Trustees until April 1988.

Becoming President

Nathan was elected unopposed as President on August 18, 1999. His nomination was strongly supported by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. He succeeded the 5th President of Singapore Ong Teng Cheong and was sworn in on September 1, 1999.

Sellapan Rama Nathan (3 juillet 1924 - ) couramment appelé S.R. Nathan est le président actuel de Singapour.
Il effectue ses études à l'université de Malaya en Malaisie (Singapour était encore malaise). Il y obtient son diplôme en 1954.
Il a été élu président de Singapour le 28 août 1999 et est entré en fonction le 1er septembre. Aucun candidat ne s'était présenté contre Nathan. S.R. Nathan s'est porté candidat à l'élection présidentielle prévue fin août 2005. Tous les autres candidats ayant été refusés par la commission électorale le 17 août 2005, Rama Nathan est assuré d'être réélu pour un deuxième mandat de 6 ans.

From Wikipedia.org