All bodies cremated in Colombo are not from Colombo: City Chief MOH

Majority of bodies of COVID victims cremated in cemeteries within the Colombo City are of those who reside outside the city, Chief Medical Officer Colombo (CMC) Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni said yesterday.

It was said that out of 20 bodies of COVID victims that are cremated daily, only around four or five are city dwellers.

“When it comes to burials we send the bodies to the Oddamawedi burial grounds in Batticloa,” he said. He also said there was currently no issue at the Kalubowila cemetery according to the JMO.

“The circular from the Western Provincial Council has said that if a patient succumbs to COVID such a person should be cremated at the nearest crematorium. If a person dies at the IDH that person will be cremated at the Mulleriyawa cemetery. Even if a citizen of Colombo city succumbs to COVID at IDH that person will be cremated at Mulleriyawa,” he said.

The Department of Local Government Western Province on August 9 issued a circular in which it was said that the number of bodies of COVID victims have increased and the local authorities are expected to accept bodies of such victims who are residing outside their local government limits. The circular also instructed that bodies should be taken to the crematorium which is nearest to the hospital where the victim has been treated.(Yohan Perera)