Colombo - Space visionary Arthur C. Clarke yesterday denied allegations by a British newspaper about his personal life and said the charge that he was a paedophile was revolting.
"Having always had a particular dislike for paedophiles, few charges could be more revolting to me than to be classed as one. However, as I have already said, the allegations are wholly denied," he said in a statement.
"Indeed the accusations are such nonsense that I have found it difficult to treat them with the contempt that they deserve. My conscience is perfectly clear."
Mr Clarke (80), who has lived in Sri Lanka for 30 years, earlier said he was outraged by the allegations made by the Sunday Mirror. He said he could not go into details as he was taking legal advice but had decided to issue the statement as "silence can easily, though wrongly, be taken as an admission of guilt".
Mr Clarke was to have been knighted by Prince Charles during his visit to Sri Lanka last week but the investiture ceremony was postponed following the allegations.