Dec 16, Colombo: Celebrating his 90th birthday today British-born science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke said that his only wish is to see lasting peace in the Island nation where he made home for the past five decades.

Clarke who has been in Sri Lanka since 1956, said “I dearly wish to see lasting peace established in Sri Lanka as soon as possible.”

“But I'm aware that peace cannot just be wished -- it requires a great deal of hard work, courage and persistence,” he said in a message released to the media. In addition to the peace in Sri Lanka Clarke said that he would like to see evidence of extra-terrestrial life and the world adopting cleaner fuels.

Clarke is celebrating his birthday this evening at the Temple Trees, where President Mahinda Rajapaksa has organized to felicitate the science fiction guru.