The nation of Sri Lanka mourns the passing of Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, esteemed founder and President Emeritus of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, as preparations are underway to bid farewell to the visionary leader with full state honors.
Dr. Ariyaratne, bestowed with the title Sri Lankabhimanya, 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 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 & Provisional Councils, Pradeep Yasaratne, tasked with overseeing the arrangements.
The late Dr. Ariyaratne's mortal remains will be placed in state at the Sarvodaya Headquarters in Moratuwa, open for homage from 4:00 pm until noon on Saturday (20). Subsequently, a funeral procession will commence from the headquarters to Independence Square in Colombo, where final religious rites will be conducted. The cremation ceremony is scheduled for 4:00 pm.
