Day of national mourning:

Mahanayake Thera’s cremation today

The cremation of the Most Ven. Galagama Sri Aththadassabhidhana Maha Nayake Thera will take place this evening at the Asgiriya police grounds with full State honours.

The government has declared today as a day of national mourning. As a mark of respect to the late Maha Nayake, the national flag in all government institutions will be flown at half-mast, and all taverns and meat shops in the Kandy town will be closed today.

The Maha Nayake’s body will lie at the Upali Nahimi Memorial hall at the Asgiriya Maha Vihara for the public to pay homage. It will be taken to the Asgiriya police grounds in a motorcade at 1.00 p.m. via Gamini Dissanayake Mawatha, Kande Vidiya, D.S. Senanayake Vidiya, Sri Dalada Vidiya and Pushpadana Mawatha while Air Force helicopters will sprinkle flowers.

No vehicles will be permitted to enter Kandy town during the funeral procession, and the public have been requested to use alternative roads to avoid the centre of the town, police said.

Maha Nayakes and other members of the Maha Sangha, MPs, Ministers, politicians and diplomats paid their last respects to the prelate.

The Maha Sangha, President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ministers, State officials and diplomats will participate.