All Ceylon Makkal Congress leader and former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen has urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to appoint a committee to study burial options of coronavirus victims.
In a letter to the President, the former Minister said that the Muslim community is deeply distressed with the continued cremation of Muslims affected by the coronavirus.
He said that at a party leaders meeting held with the Prime Minister, they requested for the appointment of an expert committee of medical professionals to study the burial option from a scientific and ethical point of view.
“We would be pleased to nominate any number of well-recognized medical professionals to this committee. The Government Medical Officer’s Association (GMOA) too in writing requested the Director General, Health Services to set up such a committee,” the former Minister said.
Bathiudeen said that honouring the dead and disposing their bodies as per the beliefs and traditions is the least respect and honor that can be bestowed upon the deceased.
He said that the Gazette notification of 11/4/2020 banning burials is scientifically and ethically flawed.
The former Minister said that the discriminatory action by the Government has no basis as the entire world is permitting burials. (Colombo Gazette)