His three children revealed this in a heartfelt statement today, where they expressed their gratitude for the role people played in their father’s journey.

The siblings described Ananda as a private man who was never one for sentimental farewells.

“So, as his children, we would like to take this chance to say a farewell to you on his behalf, with gratitude for your part in his journey. And now, he is moving on,” they said.

They also invited friends and acquaintances to share memories, anecdotes, photos or video clips in a tribute to their father.

“He never wrote his memoirs, and there must be some great untold stories there,” they said.

The siblings also shared that Ananda died at his home in Switzerland, and had been suffering from a “progressive lung disease”.

Despite his illness, they said, Ananda continued to stay active, spending time on his boat in Turkey and working on various projects.

“On returning to Switzerland, looking forward to another winter, however, it soon became clear that his condition was now advancing rapidly,” they said.

Ananda, who founded Maxis Bhd and Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd, among others, is survived by his son, Ven Ajahn Siripanyo, who later became a Buddhist monk, and the two daughters.