Sri Lanka to Continue to Cremate Muslim Covid-19 Victims Despite Uproar

Sri Lanka to Continue to Cremate Muslim Covid-19 Victims Despite Uproar

Sri Lanka to continue to cremate Muslim Covid-19 victims despite the uproar, rejecting international pleas and recommendations from its own experts to allow the Muslim minority to bury their dead. The announcement came despite a government-appointed expert committee noting this week that while it felt cremations were safest, burials could be allowed under strict conditions. The government first banned burials in April amid concerns that burying bodies could contaminate groundwater and spread the virus. Experts have said these claims are baseless. Also Read: Indian Coast Guard rescues 9 fishermen, boat drifting in Sri Lankan waters The World Health Organisation has also said that there is no such risk, recommending both burials and cremations of virus victims, but the Sri Lankan government has refused. "This decision will not be changed for social, religious, political or any other personal reason," Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said, according to ministry officials. Tradi…