Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne passes away

The founder of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement of Sri Lanka, Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne passed away yesterday at a private hospital in Colombo. He was 92.

Born November 5, 1931, Dr. Ahangamage Tudor Ariyaratne had his primary education in the village school, secondary education at Mahinda College, Galle, and his higher education at Vidyodaya University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and an Honorary Doctorate of D.Litt.
He started his career as a high school teacher at Nalanda College, Colombo and conducted the first shramadana work camp in 1958, which eventually became the largest non-government organization in the country.
He received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 1969, the Gandhi Peace Prize from the government of India in 1996, the Niwano Peace Prize in 1992, the King Beaudoin Award and other international honours for his work in peace-making and village development. 
Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne was the father of six children.