Over Rs.12 mn for cremating COVID victims: Roshan Ranasinghe

The office of the Provincial Council and Local Government Affairs has decided to provide more than Rs.12 million in expenses for operating and maintaining the crematoria that are coming under the purview of the Provincial Council, the State Ministry office said.

Provincial Councils and Local Government State Minister Roshan Ranasinghe said a decision had been taken to pay Rs.5, 000 for 2,417 COVID victims for cremations since August 31 this year. 

A decision has been taken to pay a total amount of Rs. 12,085,000 in the first stage, the State Minister said. 

This total amount has been assigned to the nine local government bodies in the country.

Accordingly, the total amount was allocated for the cremations of 448 COVID victims in the Sabaragamuwa Province, 391 in North-Western Province, 260 in Central Province, 171 in Uva Province, 537 in the Southern Province, 100 in the North Central Province, 399 in Western Province, and 71 in the Eastern Province, he said.

The State Minister agreed to provide any amount of money for the local government institutions for the cremations of COVID victims and advised to provide the required amount immediately. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)