COVID-19 pandemic Not only Muslims, but all communities had lost funeral rights - Tharaka Balasuriya

• Muslims in Sri Lanka should not trigger racism using this issue
• Israel had enacted a regulation under which dead persons have to be interred within one day

By Yohan Perera  and Ajith Siriwardana  

It is not only Muslims who had lost funeral rights but all communities in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, State Minister Tharaka Balasuriya said yesterday.  Mr. Balasuriya told Parliament that even Sri Lankan Catholics do not get to bury their dead in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.” Muslims in Sri Lanka should not trigger racism using this issue,” the State Minister said.    

“According to Jewish customs, dead bodies are kept for seven days before burial. However Israel had enacted a regulation under which dead persons have to be interred within one day,” he added. He said even the Buddhists in Sri Lanka do not get to perform their funeral rights.