President Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed the Ministry of Public Administrations & Home Affairs to declare Sept 19 a day of mourning in view of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.A statement from the president’s office said on Friday September 09 that the national flag will be hoisted at half-mast.
In a condolence message tweeted earlier in the day, President Wickremesinghe said the queen was a symbol of stability and endurance and will be greatly missed.In a statement released prior to the tweet, the president’s office said that, as a mark of respect on the passing of the queen, who was the Head of the Commonwealth and Queen of Ceylon 1952-72, the Ministry of Public Administration has been instructed that the national flag be flown at half-mast in all public buildings on Friday.
Parliament also observed a two-minute silence before it began proceedings on Friday.Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa also tweeted his condolences Friday afternoon.Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, too, took to Twitter to express his sympathies, calling the departed queen a “beacon of stability.”
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