Bodies of deceased due to COVID - 19 to be cremated

COLOMBO (News1st): Sri Lanka's health ministry on Saturday announced that the bodies of deceased victims of COVID - 19 would be cremated to prevent any potential biological threat. In a gazette notification issued on Saturday health minister Dr. Pavithra Wanniarachchi said that the body shall be burned at a temperature between 800 to 1200 degree Celcius for a minimum period of 45 minutes to one hour. The health minister noted that the cremation should take place at a cemetery or a place approved by the authorities. According to the new regulation, the body of the deceased will be handed over only to those involved in the cremation process, and that the ashes of the deceased may be handed over to their close relatives upon their request. Further, the attire and non-reusable personal protective equipment used by persons who handle the corpse shall also be destroyed during cremation.