President says to search for dry land to allow burial of Muslim COVID-19 victims

• The matter was initially raised by Justice Minister Ali Sabry
• Sri Lanka so far only cremated all COVID-19 deaths

By JAMILA HUSAIN  

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday instructed health authorities to look at the possibility of allocating a dry land in any part of the country to allow burials of COVID-19 victims following increasing requests by the Muslim community to halt cremation of Muslim victims.   

The Daily Mirror learns that the matter was discussed in the cabinet meeting last evening, and President Rajapaksa along with some of the cabinet ministers had discussed the burial procedures which are presently taking place in other countries.  

The matter was initially raised by Justice Minister Ali Sabry at the cabinet meeting after which the matter was discussed and the President signaled that Sri Lanka too would look to follow the burial procedures practiced by other countries.  

The Daily Mirror learns that health authorities will now look at allocating a suitable dry land even as far as the East for the Muslim community to bury victims of COVID-19. The matter will be discussed between the health authorities and the Muslim religious leaders.  

Sri Lanka so far only cremated all COVID-19 deaths.

• President Rajapaksa along with some of the cabinet of ministers had discussed the burial procedures which are presently taking place in other countries