Final rites of COVID-19 victims: Cremation still in effect, says Health Ministry

17 February 2021 03:55 pm - 23 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Despite Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said that burial would be allowed for those who succumb to COVID-19, the Health Ministry said they are still following the cremation rule.

Deputy Director of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath told media that cremating of COVID victims had become a law in the country through a gazette notification.

“If this is to be amended, there should be a particular procedure,” Dr. Herath said

“Therefore, cremation is what in effect at present until the relevant laws are amended accordingly,” he added.

Premier Rajapaksa recently said in Parliament that the Government would allow to bury those who die of COVID-19. (Sheain Fernandopulle)

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Comments - 23

Mueez Wednesday, 17 February 2021 04:00 PM

There should be an evil within the ranks of this regime who should be overwhelmed by burning bodies, shops, houses, religious places, farms, livestock, businesses and anything which belong to others.

Nish Wednesday, 17 February 2021 04:02 PM

This shows how ignorant SL politicians are. They dont know their own laws. Just try to please people. Winder of Asia!

Gert Jan, Dutch watermanagement engineer Wednesday, 17 February 2021 04:34 PM

35 % of the Netherlands lies under sealevel. No waste land here. Still here there is no health hazard burying Covid19 victims. This has been studied over and over again by Dutch experts. Watermanagement is our core business. I am very upset that your government does not listen to my excellent Srilankan collegues

Ex Sri Lankan in UK Wednesday, 17 February 2021 04:43 PM

This is SL. Very poor administration from the top. The right hand don't know what the left hand is doing. President don't know what the PM is doing. This is how we administer in SL. Can we improve No. Send the health ministry officials to UK for training in coved death management.

Ralaharamy Wednesday, 17 February 2021 04:48 PM

President Gotabaya Rajapakse has already instructed that his verbal order is to be implemented as law. Does this apply to the PM?

Sokrates Wednesday, 17 February 2021 05:41 PM

Of course not. This rule from Gota does not apply to the old drunkard.

Prasanna P Wednesday, 17 February 2021 04:52 PM

Either PM ( MR) is crazy OR the whole system in the parliament is a joke

Munsir Wednesday, 17 February 2021 04:53 PM

To bury or cremate,everyone want to follow health experts. To borrow or not to borrow, no one want to follow experts. There is no evident,virus can spread through water.But Borrowing has burden even our next generations to come .

Gert Jan, Dutch watermanagment engineer Wednesday, 17 February 2021 04:58 PM

35 % of the Netherlands lies under sealevel. No waste land available here. Still there is no health hazard burying Covid19 victims. It has been explored and studied over and over again. Watermanagement is our core business in the Netherlands. I am very upset that your government does not listen to my excellent Srilankan collegues at all

Gert Jan, Dutch watermanagment engineer Wednesday, 17 February 2021 05:08 PM

35% of the Netherlands lies under sealevel. No waste land available here. Still here there is no health hazard burying Covid19 victims. It has been explored and studied over and over again. Watermanagement is our core business in the Netherlands. I am very upset that your government does not listen to my excellent Srilankan collegues at all.

M.M.M.Izzeth Wednesday, 17 February 2021 05:17 PM

Only President can instruct verbally according to our constitution P.M. is like D.B. or D.M.Jayarathna

mnsmart Wednesday, 17 February 2021 05:35 PM

There is no difference in PM of past and present. We have experienced DB, Dimu, etc

Gert Jan, Dutch watermanagment engineer Wednesday, 17 February 2021 06:13 PM

35 % of the Netherlands lies under sealevel. No waste land available here. Still here there is no health hazard burying Covid19 victims. It has been explored and studied over and over again. Watermanagement is our core business in the Netherlands. I am very upset that your government does not listen to my excellent Srilankan collegues at all

blackwater Wednesday, 17 February 2021 06:18 PM

There are 180 odd countries Sri Lanka is the only country which has ground water other countries don't have rivers. canals or ground water they get their water from the sky

angel Wednesday, 17 February 2021 06:25 PM

Why did such a responsible person in the government stand up and say it in parliament, if it is not confirmed? Why?

Gong baas Wednesday, 17 February 2021 06:57 PM

All seem to be great Jokers including the PM. In the first place, on what basis did Minister Sudarshini Fernandopulle say that Covid 19 is an air-borne disease and Not water-borne.It is this latter's statement that caused the debate!

Haseef Wednesday, 17 February 2021 07:57 PM

If it is the case how could you expect Tamil or any minority communities justice from this govenment..this is a bad precedent to take this nation into the path of self destruction and this will tarnish a good name of Sri Lanka .

Sangeet Wednesday, 17 February 2021 07:58 PM

Our Health Minister is Corvid positive. Her waste is carefully collected by the Health authorities and cremated or otherwise disposed in order to ensure that it does not contaminate the water table around her house. Why not follow the same procedure for the 70,000 positive Corvid cases?

To err is not human Wednesday, 17 February 2021 08:22 PM

Classic case of the tail wagging the dog.

Gert Jan, Dutch watermanagment engineer Wednesday, 17 February 2021 09:20 PM

#Sangeet, because there is no need to do so. Covid 19 does not spread by burying Covid19 victims. Just use good bodybags and coffins.

Iscander gril Wednesday, 17 February 2021 09:22 PM

Lanka is system down, look at the current administrators, majority of the ministers and institutional heads are proven criminals, murderers and racist lickers. Impotent to revive.

Kingsley Wijesinhe Wednesday, 17 February 2021 09:50 PM

So now no one cares a fig for the Prime Minister. He is an "avalangu kaasiya."

GTG Thursday, 18 February 2021 12:51 AM

Utter DRAMA!

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Final rites of COVID-19 victims: Cremation still in effect, says Health Ministry

Comments - 23

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