20.3.2008
Pix
by Sudath Silva
President
Mahinda Rajapaksa paid tribute to Sri Arthur C Clark for
making 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. He had been a
resident of his adopted country, Sri Lanka, since 1956.
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 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. The President
said "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.
Condolences
expressed by the Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama
are provided at the end. Here is the full text of President,s
condolences: 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 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 honored 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.
Given
below the Condolence Message of Rohitha Bogollagama,
Minister of Foreign Affairs on the death of Sir Arthur
C. Clarke:
It
is with profound sadness that I have learnt of the passing
away of Sir Arthur C. Clarke today, the eminent scientist.
Sir
Arthur had made Sri Lanka his home since 1956 and became
the first foreigner to be granted resident guest status
in 1975, while remaining a British citizen. He was truly
a polymath, in every sense of the word - a versatile and
multi-faceted personality of high intellect and erudition.
He pioneered the modern Information Communications Technology
Revolution, by conceptualizing the advent of the futuristic
communications satellite technology as far back as 1945.
Perhaps, Sir Arthur is better known internationally as
a science fiction writer, having authored several books,
some of which were based on Sri Lanka. He immortalized
the island in world literature in his 1978 best seller,
“The Fountains of Paradise”, revolving around
the equatorial island of Taprobane, a thinly veiled reference
to Sri Lanka.
Sri
Lanka conferred on Sir Arthur many honours and accolades,
including the highest civilian honour “Lanka Abhimanaya”
(Pride of Lanka) in 2005. President J.R. Jayewardene appointed
him Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa in 1979,
a position he held until 2002. In acknowledgement of his
yeoman service to the promotion of science education in
the country, the Government in 1984 named the newly established
Institute for Modern Technologies in his honour.
President
Mahinda Rajapaksa in recognition of Sir Arthur’s
invaluable contribution and selfless service to the nation
accorded state patronage to the celebration of his 90th
birthday on 16 December 2007, which was graced by eminent
personalities such as the Russian cosmonaut, Alexei Leonov
and Dr Michael Zolensky from NASA. On that occasion, President
Rajapaksa assured Sir Arthur that his administration would
do all within its power to make a reality of one of his
three birthday wishes, namely to establish lasting peace
in Sri Lanka.
Sir
Arthur amply reciprocated his abiding love and sincere
affection for his adopted home, in numerous ways, none
more compelling than his determination to continue to
reside in Sri Lanka. The people of Sri Lanka in particular,
as well as millions of fans and admirers all over the
world, are poorer for the loss of this distinguished son
of Planet Earth.
Courtesy
Asian Tribune