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Sri Lanka honours Sir Arthur Clarke

Arthur C Clarke

COLOMBO: Sir Arthur C. Clarke, well-known British-born science fiction writer, who has made Sri Lanka his home for the past 50 years, was felicitated here at a glittering function on Sunday evening.

The tribute to his contribution to the world of space exploration coincided with his 90th birthday.

Presided over by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the function was attended by several distinguished personalities from different parts of the globe in the fields of space exploration and information technology.

Among other predictions of Sir Arthur in his science fiction books was the establishment of communication satellites. He attained world recognition after his book “2001: A Space Odyssey”.

In a media message to mark the occasion, Sir Arthur said he wished for peace in his adopted home Sri Lanka. “I have no regrets and no more personal ambitions,” said the writer, confined for the past three decades to a wheelchair because of the effects of childhood polio.

He said he had watched the bitter ethnic conflict dividing his adopted country for nearly half his lifetime.

“I dearly wish to see lasting peace established in Sri Lanka as soon as possible. But I’m aware that peace cannot just be wished — it requires a great deal of hard work, courage and persistence". His three wishes were peace in Sri Lanka, evidence of extra-terrestrial life and for the world to adopt cleaner fuels.

The island nation has honoured Sir Arthur with the nation’s highest honour — “Sri Lankabhimanya” and has also named a local scientific academy after him.

At Sunday’s function, the guest of honour was the world renowned astronaut Alexey Leonov of Russia who was the first man to walk in space. The two apex bodies of space exploration of India and Pakistan were also represented at the ceremony.

U.R. Rao, chairman, Physical Research Laboratory of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), spoke on “The Information Revolution in Developing Countries and Sir Arthur C. Clarke’s contribution”.

Sajid Mirza of Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission also spoke.

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