Sri Lanka mourns the death of Queen Elizabeth II

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – Sri Lanka will today mourn the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who was the country’s Head of State between 1952 and 1972.

The government has declared today, a Day of Mourning and granted a special holiday for all government institutions, in view of the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The Queen’s state funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey in London this afternoon.

The event will be attended by more than 2000 official guests, including many heads of state from around the world.

Queen Elizabeth II passed away on the 8th of September at the age of 96 at Balmoral, after reigning for 70 years.

Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickremesinghe issued directives to the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs to declare today a day of mourning in view of the passing away of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II while the national flag will also be flown at half-mast.

Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickremesinghe last evening paid his last respects to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth at the Westminster Hall at London’s Palace of Westminster.

The President was accompanied by Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe.

Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Saroja Sirisena also joined the Head of State and first lady to pay her last respects to the late Queen at the Westminster Hall last evening.

Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who left the island to attend the funeral ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II, landed in London on Saturday.

President Wickremesinghe was welcomed by Mr. Ben Mellor, Director, India and Indo-Pacific Ocean Directorate of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Mr. Dave Easton, Deputy Lieutenant, His Majesty the King’s Special and Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Britain Saroja Sirisena.