[Sri Lanka] - Sri Lanka declares national day of mourning for Pope s funeral

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Sri Lankan federal government has actually decided to state April 26, 2025 (Sunday), a National Day of Mourning in view of late Pope
Francis funeral.Accordingly, all state institutions and offices are notified to fly the national flag at half-mast on Sunday (April 26), the
Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, S
Alokabandara stated in a statement.Pope Francis funeral service has actually been set up for Saturday in front of St
Peters Basilica, the Vatican revealed following a meeting of the College of Cardinals at the Catholic Churchs city-state head office in the
heart of Rome.The casket bring the pope, who passed away Monday morning after suffering a stroke and heart failure at the age of 88, was
brought in a procession on Wednesday early morning to the basilica from his residence at Casa Santa Marta, where he died.The late pontiff
will lie in state inside St
Peters Basilica for three days ahead of his funeral service, with the faithful processing slowly as much as his simple wood casket to pay
their aspects.-- With Agencies Inputs