British-born science fiction guru Arthur C. Clarke (L) reads a greeting on his 90th birthday together with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, 16 December 2007 during an official celebration in Colombo. Clarke is one of Sri Lanka's best known resident guests, having lived in the Indian Ocean island since 1956.
Sri Lankan's Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama (R) helps British-born science fiction guru Arthur C. Clarke (L) cut his 90th birthday cake while Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse looks on, 16 December 2007 during an official celebration in Colombo. Clarke is one of Sri Lanka's best known resident guests, having lived in the Indian Ocean island since 1956.
Sri Lankan guest resident Arthur C. Clarke , left, the British science-fiction author, inventor, and futurist, most famous for his novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, and for collaborating with director Stanley Kubrick on the film of the same name, cuts a cake as Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksha, center, and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollaga look on during a felicitation to mark his 90th birthday in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Dec.16, 2007. Sri Lanka honored its distinguished resident, who said that he wants to see a lasting peace for the country's decade long civil war.
Sri Lankan guest resident Arthur C. Clarke , right, the British science-fiction author, inventor, and futurist, most famous for his novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, and for collaborating with director Stanley Kubrick on the film of the same name, sits with Russian astronaut Alexy Leonov during a felicitation to mark his 90th birthday in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Dec.16, 2007. Sri Lanka honored its distinguished resident, who said that he wants to see a lasting peace for the country's decade long civil war.
Sri Lankan guest resident Arthur C. Clarke , left, the British science-fiction author, inventor, and futurist, most famous for his novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, and for collaborating with director Stanley Kubrick on the film of the same name, cuts a cake during a felicitation to mark his 90th birthday in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Dec.16, 2007. Sri Lanka honored its distinguished resident, who said that he wants to see a lasting peace for the country's decade long civil war.
Sri Lankan guest resident Arthur C. Clarke , left, the British science-fiction author, inventor, and futurist, most famous for his novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, and for collaborating with director Stanley Kubrick on the film of the same name, during a felicitation to mark his 90th birthday in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Dec.16, 2007. Sri Lanka honored its distinguished resident, who said that he wants to see a lasting peace for the country's decade long civil war.
Sri Lankan guest resident Arthur C. Clarke , left, the British science-fiction author, inventor, and futurist, most famous for his novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, and for collaborating with director Stanley Kubrick on the film of the same name, during a felicitation to mark his 90th birthday in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Dec.16, 2007. Sri Lanka honored its distinguished resident, who said that he wants to see a lasting peace for the country's decade long civil war.
Sri Lankan guest resident Arthur C. Clarke , right, the British science-fiction author, inventor, and futurist, most famous for his novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, and for collaborating with director Stanley Kubrick on the film of the same name, sits with Russian astronaut Alexy Leonov during a felicitation to mark his 90th birthday in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Dec.16, 2007. Sri Lanka honored its distinguished resident, who said that he wants to see a lasting peace for the country's decade long civil war.
Sri Lankan guest resident Arthur C. Clarke , left, the British science-fiction author, inventor, and futurist, most famous for his novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, and for collaborating with director Stanley Kubrick on the film of the same name, cuts a cake during a felicitation to mark his 90th birthday in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Dec.16, 2007. Sri Lanka honored its distinguished resident, who said that he wants to see a lasting peace for the country's decade long civil war.
Sri Lankan guest resident Arthur C. Clarke , left, the British science-fiction author, inventor, and futurist, most famous for his novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, and for collaborating with director Stanley Kubrick on the film of the same name, cuts a cake as Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksha, center, and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollaga look on during a felicitation to mark his 90th birthday in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Dec.16, 2007. Sri Lanka honored its distinguished resident, who said that he wants to see a lasting peace for the country's decade long civil war.
Younger brother Fred Clarke pays his respects to British-born science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke at his residence in Colombo March 21, 2008. Ninety year old Clarke died at a hospital in the Sri Lankan capital March 19. Clarke, who in 1945 foresaw communication satellites, had written more than 100 books. He was Sri Lanka's best-known resident guest and has a scientific academy named after him.
British-born science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke's Sri Lankan business partner, Hector Ekanayeke (L) and his immediate family gather to pay their last respects at Clarke's residence in Colombo March 21, 2008. Ninety year old Clarke died at a hospital in the Sri Lankan capital March 19. Clarke, who in 1945 foresaw communication satellites, had written more than 100 books. He was Sri Lanka's best-known resident guest and has a scientific academy named after him.
Science fiction author Arthur Clarke poses near his personal satellite antenna at his home in Colombo, Sri Lanka in this Jan. 28, 1977 file photo. Clarke, the author of more than 100 books, including "2001: A Space Odyssey", died early Wednesday, March 19, 2008 after suffering from breathing problems. He was 90.
PHOTO) COLOMBO, SRI LANKA - NOVEMBER 22: Portrait of author Arthur C. Clarke at his office November 22, 2003 in Sri Lanka, Colombo. Arthur C. Clarke, 90, a world-acclaimed science fiction writer, died in Sri Lanka March 19, 2008, 1:30 a.m. local time, after suffering breathing difficulties. Arthur C. Clarke C.B.E, is the author of more than seventy books of popular science and science fantasy, including Childhood's End, The Nine Billion Names of God, Rendezvous with Rama, and Profiles of the Future. He is best known for his writing of 2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968), for which Clarke wrote the script with Stanley Kubrick.