2ND LEAD (Correction)

Funeral of Major Muthalif held in Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 June 2005, 11:15 GMT]
Funeral of high ranking Military Intellligence Commanding Officer Major Mutalif (39), who was assassinated Monday by unidentified gunmen was held Wednesday morning at Dehiwela Mohideen burial grounds with full military honors, sources in Colombo said.

Major Mutalif's body was kept at his Mount Lavinia home till Wednesday morning for viewing. Muslim and Buddhist religious rites were given Tuesday morning before the body was taken to the burial grounds, sources said.

The coffin draped in Sri Lankan flag was taken in front of the Dehiwala Municipal council and was hand over to Sri Lanka Army (SLA). Army officers including three hundred Army troops accompanied the cortege.

Several Sri Lanka Government officials and dignitiaries including Western Province Governor Mr. Alvai Moulana and Jathika Hela Urumaya parliamentary group leader Rev. Athuriliya Rathana thera attended funeral.

Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunga awarded posthumous promotion to the rank of Lieutenant colonel to Major Mutalif Monday.