Today (November 12), has been declared a National Day of Mourning as a mark of respect to the late Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero. The funeral parade will begin at 1.00 p.m. from the Naga Viharaya and the Most Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera will be laid to rest at under full state honours at Parliament Grounds in Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, Minister of Parliament Reforms and Mass Media Gayantha Karunathilake said at a media briefing held at the Government Information Department yesterday. Speaking at the briefing Police Media Spokesperson ASP Ruwan Gunasekara said that there will be a special traffic plan in place in lieu of the funeral. Traffic will be restricted near the Parliament Grounds from 11 a.m. along with Polduwa Junction, Parlamthuna Junctions and Kimbulwala Junction. No heavy vehicles will be allowed from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and parking will not be permitted along the Rajagiriya – Malabe road, Battaramulla – Pannipitiya Road, Thalawaththugoda – Pitta Kotte road towards Nugegoda, Jubilee post to Maharagama Road, Madiwela – Embuldeniya Road as well as the Kotte tower Junction. A Police force of nearly 2000 officers will be deployed on official duty for the final rites of the late prelate Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera and 600 officials of different ranks will be deployed to manage traffic during the ceremony.A further 650 officers will be deployed for security purposes.. The funeral of Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha thera is scheduled for 3pm today at the Parliament Grounds under full state honor. Source: News.lk