Sri Lanka makes cremations compulsory for coronavirus deaths

Sri Lanka makes cremations compulsory for coronavirus deaths

Sri Lanka has made cremations compulsory for coronavirus victims, ignoring protests from the country's Muslim population which says the rule goes against Islamic tradition.

Issuing an extraordinary Gazette notification, the Health Ministry has announced new regulations with regards to the cremation of a corpse of a person who has died of COVID-19 virus.

The Gazette notification was issued with the signature of Health Minister Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi.

The regulations were made by the Health Minister under Section two and three of the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance Act.

According to the Gazette notification, it said the cremation of corpse of a person who has died of COVID-19 or the corpse of a person who has died or is suspected to have died of the disease should be cremated at the temperature of 800 to 1,200 degrees Celsius for a minimum period of forty-five minutes to one hour for complete burning.

"The corpse of a person who has died or is suspected to have died, of  COVID-19 shall be cremated," Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said on Sunday.

This procedure should be done for the purpose of prevention of any potential biological threat and at a cemetery or place approved by the proper authority under the supervision of such authority in accordance with the directions issued by the Director General of Health Services.

Three Muslims are among the seven people who have so far died from the infectious disease in the country. Their bodies were cremated by the authorities despite protests from relatives.

More than 200 people have tested positive for coronavirus so far in Sri Lanka, where an indefinite, nationwide curfew has been imposed.

The country's main political party that represents Muslims, which make up 10 percent of the 21 million-strong national population, has accused the government of "callous disregard" for religious rituals and the families' wishes.

The cremation of COVID-19 infected Muslims in Sri Lanka has sent shock waves among the minority community, which accused the authorities of violating Islamic burial rites.

Amnesty International has also called on authorities to "respect the right of religious minorities to carry out the final rites" according to their own traditions.

Muslims account for 10 percent of Sri Lanka's 21 million population. But their relationship with the majority Sinhalese deteriorated following the deadly attacks on Easter Sunday in April 2019 that killed more than 250 people.

A little-known Muslim organisation was blamed for the island nation's worst attack since the civil war fought between the government forces and the Tamil separatist fighters.

The method of the disposal of the body has become a big talking point in the country, with a section of the media accused of running "anti-Muslim hysteria” and pointing fingers at Muslims for the spread of the virus.