KATHMANDU, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) — Nepal government has decided to honor former Prime Minister and leader of Nepali Congress Sushil Koirala, who passed away in the wee hours of Tuesday, with state funeral.
An emergency cabinet meeting held Tuesday afternoon made the decision, expressing its shock over the ultimate demise of 77-year-old Koirala and offered heartfelt condolences.
Issuing a press statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said, “Nepal government will always remember the contributions made by late Koirala in the promulgation of new constitution.”
Ministry of Home Affairs has been assigned with the task of handling the funeral rituals of Koirala at Pashupati Aryaghat on Wednesday with full state honor.
The government has announced a public holiday on Wednesday to mourn the demise of Koirala, who breathed his last following cardiac arrest after suffering from a bout of pneumonia.
Similarly, the government has decided to fly the national flags at half-mast in the government offices for three days.
“The government has decided not to organize any formal programs for the next three days,” the statement said.