The last rites of veteran actress Malini Fonseka will be conducted with full state honours on Monday, May 26, at Independence Square, the Minister of Cultural Affairs announced.

Her remains will lie in state for public viewing at the Tharangani Hall, National Film Corporation, on Sunday, May 25, from 10:00 a.m. onwards.

Malini Fonseka, fondly known as the “Queen of Sinhala Cinema,” passed away early morning on May 24 at the age of 78 while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo.

With a career spanning over 60 years, she acted in more than 140 films and received numerous national and international accolades. She was also the first female teledrama director in Sri Lanka and a former Member of Parliament.

Her contributions to film, theatre, and television made her a cultural icon, and her legacy will continue to shape generations in Sri Lankan arts and cinema.