Fri, 29 Mar 2024 Today's Paper

Burial of COVID-19 dead an environmental prejudice: Professor

8 June 2020 09:38 pm - 31     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

The burial of those who succumb to COVID-19 is an environmental prejudice, Professor of Geology Ms. Methika Withanage told the Supreme Court (SC) today while submitting a report.

Attorney Sanjeewa Jayawardena appearing on behalf of Prof. Withanage informed the court that according to his client, groundwater and soil could be contaminated due to the burial of dead bodies infected with coronavirus.

He submitted the report to court during the hearing of a fundamental rights petition filed by 12 individuals including the son of a patient who allegedly died of COVID-19. (Yoshitha Perera)


Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 31

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • RF Monday, 08 June 2020 10:39 PM

    Sri Lanka seems to have a different kind of Geologists different to the rest of the world. That's why we are wonder of the word!

    khalick mohamed rafeek Monday, 08 June 2020 11:22 PM

    what an excellent explanation submitted, please keep it up. because we bury dead bodies everywhere in sri lanka irrespective of location separated for burial purpose.

    Vernon Tuesday, 09 June 2020 09:16 AM

    That is when there was no Corona.

    JM Tuesday, 09 June 2020 08:31 AM

    Corona is an airbone disease but not a waterbone disease, scientifically difficult to absorb it.

    Dead Tuesday, 09 June 2020 08:36 AM

    Is this Professor expertise in Literature or History?

    Yusuf Tuesday, 09 June 2020 08:44 AM

    if we to agree to this argument, shouldn't we be cremating dead animals also when they die of deceases. Motive of the prof seems to suspicious.

    The nation Tuesday, 09 June 2020 08:49 AM

    Yes now we have to dig all the buried persons of the many centuries and burn them too.

    Joshua Tuesday, 09 June 2020 08:51 AM

    Another cassette recorder sent by the Govt. Press "play" and listen.

    Geologist Tuesday, 09 June 2020 08:54 AM

    from where did she get doctorate.. i wonder.. i think geology which I studied is not relevant to earth. ROFL.. i have only one question. What is happening to all the waste waters from Covid-19 patient. Is all treated before left to the ground?

    Janaka Tuesday, 09 June 2020 09:12 AM

    Wonder world Sri Lanka

    commonsense Tuesday, 09 June 2020 09:14 AM

    Burial was the only method followed from history, because that was the only known method those days, without any studies. So this became the norm or all at that time, and not because of any religious belief. Customs in religions are have evolved based on these. But over time incineration has been introduced which to any laymen mind is a more hygienic method, irrespective of any scientific basis. So it extremely inappropriate and foolish to interpret the wording of old religious documents literally, without understanding the concept given in each custom. Think intelligently without foolishly following old customs blindly.

    Jude Tuesday, 09 June 2020 09:25 AM

    The learnt Professor misleading the public with bogus theories !! And her counsellor another idiot !!!

    Mohamed Tuesday, 09 June 2020 09:45 AM

    From wonder of Asia to Joker of Asia.

    Banana republic Tuesday, 09 June 2020 09:57 AM

    This shows the quality of Sri Lanka education and the credibility of the universities the entire world must be laughing a s s off

    Citizen Tuesday, 09 June 2020 10:53 AM

    In the whole world only Sri Lanka has a different water tablet. Surely it is a PREJUDICE against Islam n Christian funeral rites Prof. Menike IF under false theory.

    Hareen Tuesday, 09 June 2020 11:05 AM

    Can the professor of Geology explain to the SUPREME COURT in detail where the waste water is disposed off all the COVID 19 patients admitted in Hospitals and suspected patients at Quarantine centers. Burials are permitted in all other countries doesn't this get contaminated with groundwater and soil? Well educated Professor misleading the Supreme Court and public.

    Gammanpillai Tuesday, 09 June 2020 11:23 AM

    Is she a medical doctor now? How does she know if the virus is active or not when the body is deceased. I sometimes wish these people's lives should suffer the pain felt by these other families.

    Nihal Senerath Tuesday, 09 June 2020 11:25 AM

    Professor or a moron? Sounds very much like the latter. Jokers paradise.

    Azam Muhammed Sheriffdeen Tuesday, 09 June 2020 11:38 AM

    Ha! Ha! It is very sad to see thousands of Covid victims being buried in Brazil these days. The ground water , in Brazil may be very infectious!

    Kumar de Silva Tuesday, 09 June 2020 03:00 PM

    Exactly, also they bury at a very shallow depth. Same in US, Sri Lanka is the only country in the world to get underground water contamination by dead bodies.. Don't know from where to laugh

    Peter Webb Tuesday, 09 June 2020 03:11 PM

    Yes it becomes deadly infectious when you'd kind goes under.

    Hamid Wednesday, 10 June 2020 12:38 PM

    By doing so,outcome also clear,we don't want to face the fate what Brazil now facing

    Born Hindu Tuesday, 09 June 2020 11:43 AM

    what to they do with the ashes of dead Hindu's? They are given to their family who in turn disperse it in the seas. What does the Geology professor have to say

    Warren Raed Tuesday, 09 June 2020 11:43 AM

    I can imagine the validity of this professor's doctorate. He or she is a disgrace to a doctorate degree itself and a shame to the country as many from overseas too will definitely be reading this news.

    sugath Tuesday, 09 June 2020 11:44 AM

    all dead bodies are contaminated, Corona or else. So is it OK Prof. for other forms of contamination to enter the ground water

    Mubarak, M Tuesday, 09 June 2020 12:59 PM

    189 countries buries their dead except Sri Lanka absolutely no reason for this refusal good argument where the used contaminated wastes goes of all patients in hospital for centuries not only corona patients. also how about the dead animals which are normally dies of decease for centuries now, I am sure that the Buddhism respects humans either living or dead, the decision is against their own region for which they are answerable one day. I think all these comments are more than enough for the authorities to reconsider the request for normal burial and based on Buddhism kindness to humanity. good luck.

    Live in Peace Tuesday, 09 June 2020 01:13 PM

    This subject so called professor might have specialized how to instigate racism or how to dig pit. It shows standard of Education in SL. If this news story read by real human being who has common sense would estimate level of culture. I agree with all above comments, and most of them are talking the fact, and I don't need to repeat if. In short, it shows how minority are revenged and discriminated for utter political purpose. Sri Lankans! pls open your eyes and mind, and see how other countries are treated covid-19 deaths. Try to live in peace respecting other faith.

    Shafraz Buhary Tuesday, 09 June 2020 02:34 PM

    Interesting, only in Sri Lanka Pharmacology Professor gives expert opinion on sterilisation and Geology Professor gives expert opinion on virology. What we have to find is how much those viruses will be active and spread the decease. Expert opinion should be taken from a virology expert not Geology expert.

    බය්යා Tuesday, 09 June 2020 02:40 PM

    Well done mom, please give a copy of the report to WHO it will help other countries too. Also, you may get Nobel prize for medicine in 2020.

    Sivalingham Somasundram Tuesday, 09 June 2020 03:07 PM

    Some subjects like geology are not taught in high schools. Only after university entrance they start studying such subjects for one or two years and go for P.G. studies. The student who offers allied subject like Geography has a chance to study Geology.

    Neville Gunasekara Tuesday, 09 June 2020 03:19 PM

    Issue is not Burying dead bodies, but burying dead bodies of those infected with Covid-19.


Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment





Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

VAT increase: SOUNDs death knell for publishers, readers

Though the Government imposed VAT (Value Added Tax) on vegetables and other e

How female change-makers are driving Sri Lanka’s energy saving platform

Saving energy has become more of a responsibility than a habit in today’s c

A dull Ramadan awaits Muslims amidst the Soaring Cost of Living

In the coming days, Muslims across the world will welcome the Holy Month of R

New wildlife underpass to curtail HEC

As of February 2024, Sri Lanka lost another 38 elephants as a result of the H