May 26, Colombo (LNW): Motorists in Colombo have been advised to expect temporary traffic disruptions today as the final farewell to legendary actress Malini Fonseka takes place at Independence Square.
The funeral, scheduled with full state honours, will be held from 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm and is expected to draw large crowds, including prominent figures from the arts, politics, and public life.
Authorities have announced that whilst roads in the vicinity will not be entirely closed, vehicle access will be intermittently limited to facilitate the ceremonial proceedings. Police have requested the public to cooperate with traffic officers on duty and urged commuters to use alternate routes where possible to avoid delays.
The late Malini Fonseka, a towering figure in Sri Lankan cinema, passed away in Colombo on Saturday at the age of 78. Her contributions to the silver screen, spanning over five decades and more than 150 films, earned her the title “Queen of Sinhala Cinema”—a title bestowed not merely for her prolific body of work, but for the indelible mark she left on the nation’s cultural landscape.
Her body, which lay in state at the National Film Corporation premises on Sunday for public homage, is set to be transported to Independence Square this morning ahead of the funeral. There, under the fading evening light, the nation will bid farewell to an artist whose work touched generations and brought the stories of Sri Lankan society to life.
