Sir Arthur C. Clarke, world-renowned science fiction author, oscar-nominated screen writer, inventor of the communications satellite and visionary, passed away at the age of 90 on 19th March 2008.

The funeral was held amid a large gathering of friends, family and fans on Saturday, 22nd March 2008 at the General Cemetery in Colombo 8, Sri Lanka. It was attended by SGAC member Natasha Akolawala and SGAC Co-National Points of Contact for Sri Lanka, Thiwanka Jayasiri and Yohan Ferreira.

MEDIA STATEMENT ISSUED ON 21 March 2008

THE OFFICE OF SIR ARTHUR C CLARKE
25, Barnes Place,
Colombo 7,
Sri Lanka.

Sir Arthur C Clarke's funeral on March 22

Colombo, Sri Lanka: The funeral of Sir Arthur C Clarke will be held at the General Cemetery in Colombo on Saturday, 22 March, at 3.30 pm.

In keeping with Sir Arthur's wishes, the entire funeral will be a low key, secular event with no religious rites, decorations or speeches.

However, both the funeral house and the funeral are open to the public.

Sir Arthur's remains were brought to his residence at No. 25, Barnes Place, Colombo 7 at 7:30 p.m. last night. According to his wishes, a private funeral will be held at the General Cemetery in Colombo 8, Sri Lanka on Saturday, 22nd March 2008.

His passing away is the lead news story here since yesterday. Today's 'Daily News' national newspaper carries the headline 'Death of a visionary' (http://www.dailynews.lk) along with condolence messages from the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka: http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/03/20/news01.asp

Also:

19 March 2008

Nalaka Gunawardene
Spokesperson,
Office of Sir Arthur C Clarke,
Colombo,
Sri Lanka.

MEDIA RELEASE

SIR ARTHUR C. CLARKE DIES AGED 90

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA - Science fiction author and inventor of the communications satellite Sir Arthur C Clarke passed away today after a brief illness. He was 90 years old.

He died at Colombo's Apollo Hospital in the early hours of March 19 (Sri Lanka time) from respiratory complications.

He was also suffering from the Post Polio Syndrome since the early 1990s, which confined him to a wheelchair for the past decade.

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