Remains of Covid-19 victims to be buried?

Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Keheliya Rambukwella today refuted speculation doing the rounds on social media, which says that the Cabinet of Ministers granted the approval for the burial of COVID-19 victims.

The minister added that the Cabinet position still remains that the final say on such a sensitive matter, lies with medical experts alone.

He said the topic was brought to the attention of the Cabinet by various members and outside parties from time to time and the matter was taken up for discussion.

What was discussed during yesterday’s Cabinet meeting was whether burials should be carried out in a remote, dry area, the minister noted.

Commenting further, he said the Cabinet, however, gave the nod to refer the matter back to the authorities to look into the possibility of burying Covid-19 victims.

Meanwhile, Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera also said the health authorities are taking the matter into consideration.

The committee of experts appointed to look into this will make the final decision on the issue, the minister said.

Several days ago, Minister of Justice, President’s Counsel Ali Sabry had made a request to the relevant authorities to look into the possibility of burying the bodies of Muslims who succumbed to COVID-19.

In the meantime, a media release, purportedly signed by the Secretary of Ceylon Thowheed Jamaath was circulated in social media today. It read that the government has permitted the burial of Muslims who fall victim to Covid-19.

However, Media Spokesperson of the Health Ministry meanwhile commented that a final decision is yet to be taken about burying the bodies of coronavirus victims.