Presenting a condolence message, minister Samaraweera said Mr. Yew was an example and a guiding light for not only the Singaporeans, but also for the whole of Asia.

Meanwhile, nytimes.com reports that thousands of Singaporeans braved torrential rains on Sunday for a final farewell to the country’s founding prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, whose funeral drew a long list of leaders and dignitaries from across the globe.

Mr. Lee’s coffin was paraded through the rain-soaked streets to the National University of Singapore, where the funeral service was held ahead of a private cremation. The route of the procession incorporated symbols from Mr. Lee’s career, passing by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau — a tribute to Mr. Lee’s reputation for incorruptibility — and two of the country’s oldest government-backed housing developments in a nation with one of the world’s highest rates of homeownership.

As the coffin passed, crowds shouted, “Lee Kuan Yew! We love you!” To allow more people to see, spectators in the front line closed their umbrellas as the procession passed, despite the pouring rain.