On April 16, 2024 our friend, mentor and founder of one of the most successful village development movements the world has ever seen passed away at aged 92.
Ari began organizing communities at age 14. He visited India and was enormously influenced by the work of Mahatma Gandhi. He adapted the Gandhian Social Work principles to Sri Lanka’s Buddhist context and awakened millions of his fellow citizens to their own power to transform their lives. By systematizing the Sarvodaya principles, his legacy lives on the hearts of the thousands of village volunteers that make of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement that continues today under the leadership of his son Vinya Ariyaratne.
Sarvodaya USA was represented at the funeral by our board Chair, John Coonrod, who shared these photos and a scanned copy of the program. Ari’s casket was visited by thousands of people both at headquarter in Moratuwa and in Independence Square in Colombo. The President paid his respects at Moratuwa and the Prime Minister spoke at the funeral which was done with full state honors.
Click on images to view full screenI
English program from the Funeral