Chief Prelate's funeral today with state honours

Day of national mourning

Yasaratne Gamage

The government declared today as a day of national mourning as a mark of respect to Ramannya Nikaya Chief Prelate Most Venerable Weweldeniye Medhalankara Thera who passed away at the age of 103. The cremation will be held with full state honours at D S Senanayake College Grounds, Mirigama today at 5pm.

The Police request the public to use alternative routes during the cremation ceremony. The funeral procession expected to comprise a massive crowd of mourners, including VIPs, will commence at Sasana Wardana Pirivena, Meerigama at 2pm and proceed along Giriulla- Pasyala road to Mirigama D S Senanayake College Grounds.

Pasyala - Giriulla road will be closed between 2pm to 5pm today for the funeral parade. Vehicles from Pasyala junction travelling to Giriulla should turn at Kal Eliya junction and proceed through Pallewela.

Motorists travelling from Giriulla to Pasyala, Nittambuwa should take Divulapitiya road from the Mirigama Bo tree and turn to Pallewela from Baduragoda. Meanwhile, vehicles from Giriulla and Diulapitiya - Mirigama will be rerouted to proceed along Danovita - Warakapola road to reach Colombo - Kandy road. Vehicles plying along Weweldeniya - Mirigama road will be directed to Danovita - Mirigama road.

All liquor shops, bars and slaughter houses will be closed today.