|
|
|
Saturday, March 22, 2008 - 07.26 GMT |
|
|
Back |
|
Silent homage to visionary of space travel |
|
|
|
|
Sri Lankans will observe one minute’s silence this
afternoon as a mark of respect to Sir Arthur C
Clarke, the celebrated author, visionary and
promoter of space exploration, prophet of satellite
communications, great humanist and lover of animals,
who was the first foreign-born to be honoured as a
Distinguished Citizen of Sri Lanka.
The country will observe a minute’s silence, with
all radio and TV channels also going silent, at the
time his funeral takes place at the General
Cemetery, Kanatte, in Colombo. Sir Arthur has lived
in Sri Lanka, which he made his adopted home, from
the time from 1956.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa was among the many Sri
Lankans who paid their last respects to Sir Arthur
as his remains lay at the home of his close friends
in Colombo, with whom he lived till his death last
Wednesday.
In keeping with Sir Arthur's wishes, the entire
funeral will be a low key, secular event with no
religious rites, decorations or speeches.
Among the three important wishes Sir Arthur listed
on the occasion of his 90th birthday on December 16,
2007, was his “desire to see lasting peace in Sri
Lanka as soon as possible”.
In his message of condolence on the death of Sir
Arthur, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said: “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.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
 |
^ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
