Ranil creates history in paying last respect to Queen Elizabeth II

President Ranil Wickremesinghe accompanied by his wife Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe and Sri Lanka High Commissioner in the UK Saroja Sirisena paid their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, at the Westminster Hall, London yesterday.

This was Wickremesinghe's first official visit overseas after taking office as the President on 21 July.

President Wickremesinghe was received by Indo-Pacific Regional Director and Director in India of the UK Commonwealth and Development Office Ben Mellor, Special Representative of the King Deputy Lieutenant Dave Easton, and High Commissioner Sirisena.

The State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will take place at Westminster Abbey today.



President Ranil Wickremesinghe has had the opportunity to be one of the two participants in the Queen’s royal funeral as the children of parents who attended the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. It is a unique opportunity to join the British and Sri Lankan history books.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is going to London to attend the royal funeral of Queen Elizabeth. The other person here is former Queen of the Netherlands Princess Beatrix.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s parents Esmond Wickremesinghe and Nalini Wickremesinghe participated in the coronation ceremony of Queen Elizabeth in February 1952 along with Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake.