President Kumaratunga expresses deep shock over deaths of Nepali Monarchs
[04 June 2001]

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga Saturday expressed her deep grief and profound shock at the tragic deaths of His Majesty King Birendra Bin Bikram Shah Dev, Queen Aishwarya Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah Devi and members of the royal family of Nepal.

The King, the Queen and several other members of the royal family were killed in a shooting in the Royal Palace, Friday.

President Kumaratunga, the chairperson of the SAARC in her statement referring to His Majesty as a true friend of Sri Lanka said, “As one of the founding fathers of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), His Majesty King Birendra made an invaluable contribution to the establishment of SAARC and its progress”. 

Meanwhile the third session of the Standing Committee of SAARC scheduled for the second week of this month has been postponed following this unfortunate incident.

The following is the full text of the message issued by Her Excellency the President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the Chairperson of SAARC on June 2, 2001, on the death of Their Majesties the King and Queen of Nepal:

“I was deeply grieved and profoundly shocked to learn of the sudden and untimely death of His Majesty Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Her Majesty Queen Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah Devi and several members of the Nepalese Royal family in a tragic incident at the Narayanhity Palace last night.

As one of the founding fathers the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, His Majesty King Birendra made an invaluable contribution to the establishment of SAARC and its progress particularly during the formative stages.

His Majesty the King was a true friend of Sri Lanka and worked tirelessly to promote friendship and cooperation between our two countries and peoples. The warm reception and hospitality extended to me by their majesties and other members of the Royal family during my state visit to Nepal in 1999 still remain vivid in my memory. 

The tragic demise of Their Majesties will be deeply mourned not only in Nepal but also in the entire South Asian Region.

The government and people of Sri Lanka join me in expressing our deepest sympathy to the Government and people of Nepal on their monumental loss. I am confident that the people of Nepal, with their characteristic courage and fortitude, will be able to surmount this great national tragedy.” 

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Last Updated Date: December 17, 2003 .