Sir Arthur C Clarke

Arthur C Clarke
and Sri Lanka

It was his interest of diving in the tropical seas that first led Arthur C Clarke to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). His first glimpse of the Indian Ocean island was in December 1954, when his ship SS Himalaya – taking him from London to Sydney, to explore the Great Barrier Reef – paused at Colombo Harbour for the day. He made contact with the leading Ceylonese diver Rodney Jonklaas.

Clarke returned to Ceylon in 1956 with fellow Englishman Mike Wilson for exploring the island’s cultural and natural heritage for several months. At the end of this expedition, he decided to settle down in the island (even though he kept travelling extensively on work till the 1980s).

When asked why live in Ceylon/Sri Lanka, he said, “The short answer is that I had had enough of 40 years of British winters!” He wrote several books giving the long answer, starting with The Reefs of Taprobane (1957).

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L-R: Rodney Jonklaas, Mike Wilson & Clarke

1956

Clarke soon became Sri Lanka’s best known foreign resident. For half a century, he played an active role in the island as a public intellectual and was engaged in promoting science, technology and higher education. He supported environmental and cultural conservation and was a patron of the arts. He kept out of local politics while maintaining cordial relations with all political leaders.

From 1979 to 2002, Clarke served as Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa, the country’s leading technological university.

“ 

Two to three weeks is about the right length for a vacation in Sri Lanka. If you stay for any longer, you might never want to go back. ”

– Arthur C Clarke

“ 

Two to three weeks is about the right length for a vacation in Sri Lanka. If you stay for any longer, you might never want to go back. ”

– Arthur C Clarke

Sri Lanka issued two postage stamps in 1998 featuring and saluting Clarke for his contributions to advancing communications.

Over the years, he received three national honours:

  • Vidya Jyothi (Luminary of Science) award from the President of Sri Lanka, 1986
  • Sahithya Ratna (Gem of Literature) lifetime achievement award from National Arts Council, Sri Lanka, 2005
  • Sri Lankabhimanya (Pride of Lanka), highest civilian honour from the President of Sri Lanka, 2005

In February 1975, Clarke became a ‘Resident Guest’ under a new immigration category. However, he always remained a British citizen.

Arthur C Clarke's favorite locations in Sri Lanka

Colombo

Sri Lanka’s commercial capital where Arthur C Clarke lived for more than half his life since settling down in the island in 1956. Among his favourite locations within the city were the Galle Face Hotel (where 3001: The Final Odyssey was completed), Colombo Swimming Club and National Museum.

Hikkaduwa

Small coastal town, well known for its scenic beach, coral reef and surfing. Clarke’s Underwater Safaris diving company had a dive station here for many years – it was destroyed by the Indian Ocean tsunami on 26 December 2004.

Unawatuna

Arthur C Clarke’s favourite beach was here. In 1960s and 1970s, he owned a house and spent long periods in this village, before tourism transformed it. Mentioned in The View from Serendip (1978).

Trincomalee

Multicultural east coast town where Clarke’s final novel, The Last Theorem (2008), opens. He pointed out how Trincomalee’s deep water harbour had ideal conditions for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), a method for generating electricity using the temperature difference between deep and shallow sea waters.

Sigiriya

Clarke was fascinated by the 5th century ‘Fortress in the Sky’, with its feats of ancient engineering and technology. In his 1979 novel Fountains of Paradise, Sigiriya features as Yakkagala (Rock of Demons). Clarke also selected Sigiriya as his “favourite place on earth” in a National Geographic Society book.

Great Basses and Little Basses (13 km off Yala)

In March 1961, Clarke and fellow divers found an old shipwreck close to the British-built lighthouse on an offshore outcropping called the Great Basses Reef. The story of discovering this 18th century Indian ship carrying silver rupees is documented in Treasure of the Great Reef (1964).

Anuradhapura

This city was the capital of ancient Lanka for over a millennium, and is today a World Heritage city. Clarke was interested in the advanced hydraulic civilisation that once flourished with Anuradhapura as its centre. His 1957 novel The Deep Range features the chief monk of Anuradhapura as a key character.

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Vidya Jothi from President J. R. Jayewardene

1986
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Clarke on his favourite beach in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankans Remembering Arthur C Clarke