State funeral held for late Singaporean President Nathan

Singaporeans paid their last respects to late President SR Nathan at his state funeral on Friday, an epa journalist reports.

Mourners lined the streets as a funeral procession made its way from Parliament House, where the late president’s body had been lying in state, to the National University of Singapore’s University Cultural Center.

Nathan, the city state’s sixth and first elected president, passed away in a hospital on Monday at the age of 92 after suffering a stroke on July 31.

Family, friends and senior government officials attended the funeral service today, with eulogies delivered by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, among others, the Straits Times newspaper reported.

“From a most humble beginning, Mr Nathan built a unique and illustrious public service career,” Lee said.

“He played a significant and influential role in our nationbuilding.”

Following the funeral, a private cremation service was held at Mandai Crematorium.

Nathan served two terms in office from 1999 to 2011, making him Singapore’s longestserving president.