The Home Affairs Ministry today confirmed that the government will not declare December 30 as a national day of mourning for former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake.
The government previously declared December 31 and then December 30, as a national day of mourning as a mark of respect for the late premier who passed away yesterday at a private hospital in Colombo.
Ministry spokesman Asanga Jayalath said that plans were underway to present a cabinet paper declaring a day of mourning but the decision was later suspended.
However, President Maithripala Sirisena has instructed that the funeral to be held under state sponsorship.
The funeral of the former premier is scheduled to be held in Horana on December 31.(Darshana Sanjeewa)
