The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy in Colombo has denied claims made in some local media with regards to the burial of coronavirus victims.
In a statement issued today, the UAE Embassy said that there was no truth to reports that the UAE has banned the burial of coronavirus victims nor has it instructed that the bodies be cremated.
Some local Sinhalese media had reported that His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah had directed the Department of Islamic Affairs in Sharjah not to allow the burial of any coronavirus victims in the Al Saja’a area of Sharjah.
The UAE Embassy said that His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohamed had directed not to allow the burial of any coronavirus victims in Al Saja’a due to the lack of space and that they be buried in another specified area.
These reports had also been widely shared on social media which the Embassy says was a misreporting of facts.
The UAE Embassy said that it strongly condemned the deliberate attempt to incite racism and hatred against the Muslims of Sri Lanka.
(LI)