17 April 2024 11:20 am
Dr. Ariyaratne, breathed his last on Tuesday (16) at the age of 93, while under medical care at a private hospital in Colombo. In the wake of his demise, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and officials of the Sarvodaya convened to coordinate the funeral arrangements.
At the meeting, instructions were issued to ensure that the final rites of Dr. Ariyaratne are conducted with due reverence and respect, with the Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Public Administration & Provincial Councils, Pradeep Yasaratne tasked with overseeing the arrangements.
The late Dr. Ariyaratne's mortal remains will be placed at the Sarvodaya Headquarters in Moratuwa, open for homage from 4:00 pm till noon on Saturday (20). Subsequently, a funeral procession will commence from the headquarters to Independence Square in Colombo, where the final religious rites will be conducted while the cremation ceremony is scheduled for 4:00 pm.