President Ranil Wickremesinghe apologised for the Sri Lankan Government’s decision to enforce cremations during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The President addressing Parliament on Tuesday, said that every citizen should have the right to determine how their final rites are conducted.
“In this country, any person should have the right to determine whether he or she is buried, cremated or given to the medical faculty,” the President said.
The President was referring to the controversial decision taken by the Gotabaya Rajapaksa Government to enforce cremating Muslim and Christian victims of COVID-19, which goes against their religious beliefs. The decision drew widespread criticism, including from the United Nations and Human Rights organizations.
In February 2021, the Government lifted the controversial regulation introduced in March 2020, following months of protests from Muslim and civil rights groups.
“During this time there was a lot of pain, witnessed mainly by the Muslims, but there are also Hindus, Buddhists and Christians who also like to bury. We would like to apologise to them on what has happened,” President Wickremesinghe said.
President Wickremesinghe recalled that many countries initially halted burials as a precaution, and the World Health Organization (WHO) reviewed the matter. In Sri Lanka, a committee was appointed, which recommended against allowing burials, the President said.
“But the Supreme Court upheld the decision of the committee. So the Government had to follow that and there was no choice at that stage. But now all this is over,” he said.
With the situation now resolved, the Government plans to introduce a law granting the right to burial, cremation, or body donation to medical institutions, President Wickremesinghe announced. He expressed hope that the House will support the implementation of the Bill. (Newswire)
