President Wijetunga’s funeral today under State patronage

The funeral of former President D.B. Wijetunga will be held today at 3.00 p.m. at the Kandy Municipal Grounds in Getambe under State patronage.
The remains will be taken to the Parliament Complex from his residence in Pilimatalawa and will lie in- state there from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The funeral and religious rites will be conducted under State patronage.
Liquor outlets and meat stalls in the Udunuwara, Gangawata Koralaya and Yatinuwara Divisional Secretariat Divisions will be closed today.
In all State institutions the national flag should be flown at half mast as a mark of respect for President Wijetunga.

President first world leader to address UN in Tamil

President Mahinda Rajapaksa created history yesterday at the United Nations by addressing the General Assembly briefly in Tamil. This is the first time that any world leader has spoken to the world body in Tamil.
Last year, he became the first Sri Lankan leader to address the UN General Assembly in Sinhala. This year, he addressed the forum in both Sinhala and Tamil.
“While my mother tongue is Sinhala, let me elaborate a few thoughts in Tamil. Sinhala and Tamil are the two languages of the people of Sri Lanka. Both these have been used through the centuries, are rich in literature, and are widely used in my country, with recognition as Official Languages. We will march towards a richer freedom and lasting unity that await us as a nation,” were the sentiments he expressed in Tamil.

Talks only when Tigers give up arms- President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the 63rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly today said that the government would only be ready to talk to the LTTE when it is ready to commit itself to decommissioning of its illicit weapons and dismantling of its military capacity, and return to the democratic fold.