Demise of Queen Elizabeth II: President declares 19 Sept. as Day of Mourning

Sri Lanka’s national flag is at half-mast outside the President’s office to mourn the death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in Colombo yesterday – AFP

• National flag to be flown at half-mast for 10 days

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs to declare 19 September as a day of mourning in view of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

The national flag will be flown at half-mast until 19 September. 

President Wickremesinghe also expressed his deepest condolences to the Royal Family, the Government, and the people of the United Kingdom on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Head of the Commonwealth.

The President in his condolence message said Her Majesty reigned as Queen of Ceylon from 1952-1972.

Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years.