SRI LANKA The death of Ariyaratne, the “Gandhi of Sri Lanka”

A former professor, he founded the Sarvodaya Shramadana movement in 1958, maintaining the link between the secular principle of development and the Buddhist ideals of altruism and compassion, together with the firm option for non-violence. Among the numerous honors he received in his long life were the Magsaysay Prize in 1969 and the Niwano Peace Prize in 1992.

Colombo () – Sri Lanka mourns the death of Ahangamage Tudor Ariyaratne, founder of the Sarvodaya Shramadana movement and often compared to the figure of Gandhi, for his Buddhist path to social progress through non-violence. Ariyaratne passed away on Tuesday, April 16 at the age of 92.

A former secondary school teacher at Nalanda College in Colombo, in 1958 he had run the first Shramadana work camp with about 40 of his students in a marginalized village; an initiative that would later lead to the birth of the largest non-governmental organization in the country.

Since that first experience, Dr. Ariyaratne had guided the youth and his companions in the idea of ​​sharing work, thought and energy with the villagers. He termed the Sarvodaya Shramadana movement as an implementation of Buddha's teachings for sustainable development and peace, for the advancement of the spiritual, moral, cultural, social, economic and political life of the community.

“For over sixty years, Sarvodaya has continued his service and Dr Ariyaratne has received numerous national and international awards in recognition of his commitment to the nation and his people,” recalls one of his six children, Vinya Ariyaratne. Among the many – in addition to the Sri Lankabhimanya Prize, the highest national honor awarded to him in 2007 – include the Ramon Magsaysay Prize (the so-called “Nobel Prize of Asia” awarded to him in the Philippines) in 1969, the King Baudouin International Development Prize (Belgium) in 1982, the Niwano Peace Prize (Japan) in 1992 and the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize (India) 1996 for his contribution to human well-being and peace. His honorary degrees include Doctor of Letters from Sri Jayewardenepura University and Doctor of Humanities from the Amelio Aguinaldo College of Medicine in the Philippines.

A firm believer in the Gandhian principles of non-violence, rural development and self-denial, Dr. Ariyaratne has shaped the Sarvodaya Shramadana movement by holding firm the link between the secular principle of development and the Buddhist ideals of altruism and compassion. As a devout Buddhist, he has led tens of thousands of “family gatherings” and meditations with millions of people in Sri Lanka and other parts of the world.