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Arthur Clarke is dead

COLOMBO: Sir Arthur C. Clarke (90), the British-born science fiction writer, who had made Sri Lanka his home for the past 50 years, died at a hospital here on Wednesday after a brief illness.

Sir Arthur had wished for lasting peace in his adopted country at the earliest possible. He had spelt out this in the presence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a public function to mark his 90th birthday on December 16, 2007. Mr. Rajapaksa in a statement mourned the death of Clarke and paid tribute to him as a “great visionary.” He was Sri Lanka’s best-known resident guest and has a scientific academy named after him.

Clarke’s office said he had wanted to be buried at a private, secular funeral, which was likely to take place on Saturday.

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