Message by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the

I am deeply saddened by the demise of Sir Arthur C. Clarke, the most famous person of foreign birth to call Sri Lanka his home.

Living in this his adopted land since 1956, Sir Arthur made important intellectual, cultural and scientific contributions to Sri Lankan development, while engaged in his scientific research and creative writing that  earned him well deserved praise the world over.

The people of Sri Lanka were touched by the passion he had for this country, and his close involvement in its progress, especially the courage with which he acted for the protection of nature and the environment, long before Climate Change assumed the importance it has today. Always ahead of his time, his response in the aftermath of the devastating Tsunami of 2004 went beyond the harnessing of immediate relief, to focusing international attention on the need for a tsunami warning system.

We were all proud to have this celebrated author, visionary and promoter of space exploration, prophet of satellite communications, great humanist and lover of animals in our midst, fittingly honoured as a Distinguished Citizen of Sri Lanka.

Among the three important wishes Sir Arthur listed at the celebrations to mark his 90th birthday a few months ago was his “desire to see lasting peace in Sri Lanka as soon as possible”.

On this sad occasion, as Sri Lanka joins the world in mourning his sad demise, I wish to reiterate that my government remains committed to do all within its power to make a reality of this wish, which encompasses the desire of all Sri Lankans.

March 19, 2008