The funeral of former Minister of Education Richard Pathirana will take place with full state honor at the Samanala playground in Galle today.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa paid his last respects to the former Minister at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Headquarters on Friday. Pathirana, 71, died at his Colombo residence after a prolonged illness on Thursday.

Former Minister who entered Parliament in 1983 winning a by-election held for the Akmeemana electorate was also a one-time Chief Opposition Whip.