UK has shared guidance on Covid-burials with SL government
Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office reveals in the House of Commons
COLOMBO –The United Kingdom has shared guidance with the Government of Sri Lanka on how burials can continue to operate in a safe format, within the WHO guidelines, to ensure all religious groups can practise their rites.
This was revealed by Nigel Adams, Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, who also said the United Kingdom has expressed concern over the Sri Lankan government’s continued decision to mandate cremation for all COVID-19 victims, recognizing the particular impact the decision is having on Sri Lankan Muslims and other faith communities.
Adams was responding on Tuesday (19), to a question by Afzal Khan, Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Commons, from Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on reference to the forced cremation of COVID-19 victims in Sri Lanka.
Khan queried whether the secretary had raised the WHO guidelines and advice, which allow for burials for COVID-19 victims, with the Sri Lankan government.
Adams, while revealing the UK government had shared guidance with the Government of Sri Lanka on how burials can continue to operate in a safe format, within the WHO guidelines, said the Minister of State for South Asia and Minister responsible for Human Rights, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, had also raised concerns about the issue with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner, most recently in December.
He said Lord Ahmad had also raised the importance of minority rights in a call with the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in November, adding that UK’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka had also raised concerns about mandatory cremations several times with the Sri Lankan Government, most recently on January 8.
-ENCL