Will not change expert decision on any ground: Health Minister

A group of virologists had only met State Minister and expressed their views

Proposals of virologists submitted to expert committee for perusal

Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi yesterday asserted that the decision taken by the expert committee appointed to recommend on the burial or cremation of Covid-19 victims will not be changed on any social, religious, political or personal grounds.

She told Parliament that the decision of the expert committee is to cremate all Covid-19 related bodies at the moment and added that the government will implement that clear recommendation.

“The recommendation of the committee is to cremate the people who die of Covid-19 by now.we will implement that clear recommendation. We will not change such expert opinions when facing this serious epidemic on any social, religious, political or personal grounds,” she said.

The Minister said this in response to a question raised by Tamil National People’s Front MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam on Standing Order 27/2.

Responding to the question raised

by the MP who said that a second committee comprising of virologists had given the green light on burial of Covid-19 bodies, she said no such committee had been appointed and added that a group of virologists had only met state minister Sudarshani Fernandopulle and expressed their opinion.

Ms. Wanniarachchi said she obtained in writing the proposals of the virologists who had met the state minster and referred their opinion to the expert committee appointed to recommend on the burial or cremation of Covid bodies.

“They are studying it now.we have not received the decision of the expert committee as yet,” she said.