The Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has extended condolence over the demise of former prime minister and senior politician Surya Bahadur Thapa.

Thapa died while undergoing treatment at Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon, India, on April 15. he died of multiple-organ failure. He was 88.

Sending a condolence message to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala on Friday, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, on behalf of Sri Lankan government and Sri Lankan people, extended condolences to the bereaved family of late Thapa.

"With the passing away of former prime minister Thapa, Nepal has lost a great visionary political leader, who was a dedicated political visionary and who was committed to uplifting the people-oriented politics in Nepal," the message reads.

Surya Bahadur Thapa served as the Prime Minister of Nepal for five terms.

Born in March 1928, Surya Thapa was the first Prime Minister under the Panchayat System of Nepal from December 1963 to February 1964. In his later years, he was the leader of Rastriya Janashakti Party.
(With inputs from The Himalayan Times)