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Cremating COVID-19 remains will stay: No changes in experts’ decision: Health Minister

7 January 2021 03:52 pm - 23     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi today asserted that the decision taken by the experts' committee to cremate all COVID-19 related dead bodies will not be changed on any social, religious, political or personal grounds.

She told Parliament that the decision of the expert committee is to cremate all COVID-19 related dead bodies and added that the government will firmly implement that recommendation.

“Recommendation of the committee is to cremate the bodies of those who die of COVID-19 as of now. We will implement that recommendation firmly. We will not change such experts' opinion at this point where the country is facing a serious pandemic situation. Hence, under no social, religious, political or personal grounds, this decision will be revoked,” she reiterated.

The Minster said this in response to a question raised by Tamil National People's Front MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam on Standing Order 27/2.

Responding to a question raised by the MP who said a second committee comprising of virologists had given the green light on the burial of COVID-19 remains, she said no such committee had been appointed and added that a group of virologists had only met state minister Sudarshani Fernandopulle and expressed their opinion.

Minister Wanniarachchi said she had obtained in writing the proposals of the virologists who had met the state minister and referred their opinion to the expert committee appointed to recommend on the burial or cremation of COVID-19 remains.

“They are studying the proposals by now. We have not received the decision of the expert committee as yet,” she said. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)


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  Comments - 23

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  • Gamage Thursday, 07 January 2021 04:00 PM

    Good. Have one consistent policy.

    Abdul Mujeeb Borhan Thursday, 07 January 2021 05:11 PM

    Good that non of you'll care for the minorities and their rites, the minorities will definitely repay this favour in a way that you'll will never forget.

    Lankan Thursday, 07 January 2021 05:08 PM

    GOOD!!/ BAD?/ UGLY??

    Sam Thursday, 07 January 2021 05:41 PM

    Yes, Stand firm. One rule for all.

    Jayanath Thursday, 07 January 2021 05:42 PM

    Good Decision

    Dr Najimudeen Thursday, 07 January 2021 05:48 PM

    We will not listen to the college of community physicians of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka medical association and the experts like microbiologists , virologists and immunologists of Sri Lanka. We are capable of controlling the COVID spread by pouring a pot of water in the river and Dammika syrup. We will only follow the orders of extremist Buddhist Bhikkus . The Muslim janasas should be cremated and we have no respects for others feelings.

    Desillusioned Thursday, 07 January 2021 05:54 PM

    Every intelligent citizen who uses his or her brains know that burying Covid 19 victims is not a health hazard. When you discriminate and hurt minorities for no reason, there will be never peace in Sri Lanka. If cremation of a 20 days old baby without the consent of the parents does not open your eyes, what will? Cruel, cruel country

    Jaffna Logic Thursday, 07 January 2021 06:06 PM

    We are in a dangerous situation globally, no one knows what is going to happen with the virus mutating and consequently whether the vaccines would really work. So let us stop this cremation vs burial debate and focus on combating the invisible enemy. If the Muslims are not happy then so be it.

    Nathan Thursday, 07 January 2021 06:11 PM

    Hope the govt can stick to one policy. They promised one country one law. Not one law each for each group. Should be applicable to all.

    lal Thursday, 07 January 2021 08:01 PM

    Cremation or burial is like being vegetarian and non vegetarian. it cannot be forced upon. Pfizer vaccine is a product of NBiotech and not wholly their product. Pfizer has a share in N Biotech and the brains behind the vaccine are a couple of Islam faith settled in Germany. Hatred will not take us anywhere.

    Ty Thursday, 07 January 2021 06:15 PM

    Muttiamma logic, gots and gang should get China virus and die, Ameen.

    Jehan Thursday, 07 January 2021 06:16 PM

    Crematorium should be bombed, this will happen eventually.

    Bernard Thursday, 07 January 2021 06:17 PM

    We all know how some minority M.P. 's voted for the 20th amendment to enable the government to get 2/3rd and they don't listen to them anymore because the have got what they want for the next 5 years.

    Shihan Thursday, 07 January 2021 06:57 PM

    Dear Mr. Abdul Mujeeb Borhan, Statements like these add fuel to the fire.. it doesn’t help Muslims.. if at all it gives ammunition and justifies islamaphobic attitudes of people.. think before you comment sir

    wait and see Thursday, 07 January 2021 06:59 PM

    Just as much the saying goes - those who live by the sward die by the sword -If you live by the gun, die by the gun I suppose one can say this - who live by FIRE will definintly die by the fire.

    suren Thursday, 07 January 2021 07:09 PM

    Great for being firm

    Citizen Thursday, 07 January 2021 07:13 PM

    Thank you Madam, this was expected even before the so called committee was formed.

    Dhilam Thursday, 07 January 2021 07:22 PM

    The minister so call health minister if she deid today what she wants her deid body buried or burnt according to her faith even the president of this country

    UK expert Thursday, 07 January 2021 07:40 PM

    The so called Sri Lankan Expert committee appears to be a bunch of MORONS. Please release their names and their post graduate qualification and obtained from which country.

    Mohamed Thursday, 07 January 2021 08:01 PM

    We should stand with our Tamil brothers now. This is the only vioble solution. Tamils were touched for 30 years. Now it is Muslims.....

    Sambo Thursday, 07 January 2021 08:14 PM

    That's good. Take whatever decision and close the topic instead of dragging the subject.

    Umar Thursday, 07 January 2021 08:27 PM

    Health Minister? You are a joke with no medical knowledge or background who considers snake oil treatments to cure covid. I guess your expert panel is so advanced that they can outrule major health organization guidelines.

    Sarath Peirera Friday, 08 January 2021 04:06 PM

    There should be one policy - one law for all people. That should be "It is the choice of the relations whether a patient dying of COVID should be cremated or buried". There is enough scientific evidence that both methods will not cause further cases of COVID.


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