GOVERNMENT ALLOWS BURIAL OF COVID VICTIMS

The Muslim community had been for months raising strong objections over the Govt's mandatory cremation only policy

Gazette notification issued last night

Clearance given by technical committee

Corpse shall be buried in accordance with directives issued by DGHS

Unsure if authorities would allocate a separate land for burial

T he government decided yesterday to allow the burials of Muslim Covid-19 victims after the technical committee appointed in this regard gave clearance, a Minister said yesterday.

Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, last night issued a fresh gazette notification permitting the burial of COVID-19 victims, reversing an earlier decision that made cremation mandatory.

In the gazette notice, the terms ‘cremation of corpse’ had been revised to ‘cremation or burial of the corpse’ and the term ‘shall be cremated’ had been revised to ‘maybe cremated or buried’.

Further, the gazette notice said that in the case of burial, the corpse shall be buried in accordance with the direction issued by the Director-general of Health Services at a cemetery or place approved by the proper authority under the supervision of such authority.

The decision follows the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressing concerns about the cremation of Muslim victims at the meeting of the High-level Segment.

OIC Secretary-general Yousef Al Othaimeen said the OIC is “concerned with the situation of Muslims in Sri Lanka”.

Sri Lanka counts on the support of these countries to defeat a resolution to be moved by the core group of countries led by the United Kingdom.

Till last night it was however unsure if the authorities would allocate a separate land to allow the burial of COVID-19 victims or if they would be permitted to bury in their relevant cemeteries.

The Muslim community in Sri Lanka had been for months raising strong objections over the government’s mandatory cremation only policy of COVID-19 victims and had been urging the government to provide scientific evidence of harm which prevented burials from being carried out.

Earlier, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa announced in Parliament that burials would be allowed.

Later, State Minister Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle said it would be referred to the technical committee of experts to take the final decision.

The Daily Mirror learns that Muslim parliamentarians had in discussions held with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan raised this matter during Khan’s visit to the country.