President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday expressed condolences over the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Head of Commonwealth and Head of State of Ceylon till 1972. The President in a tweet said that she was a symbol of stability and endurance and she will be greatly missed.
“My heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth,” he tweeted.
“I am saddened to learn of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She was a symbol of stability and endurance, and she will be greatly missed,” he said. The Government on Friday declared September 19 as a day of national mourning in view of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II the Head of the Commonwealth and Queen of Ceylon till 1972.
The President has issued directives to the Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry, the Presidential Media Division stated.
The PMD said that the national flag will be lowered to half-mast at public institutions until September 19. The President instructed the Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry that the National Flag on all public buildings be flown at half-mast a few minutes after the death of Queen Elizabeth II was announced by Buckingham Palace on Thursday night.