Khan welcomes Sri Lanka's reversal of cremation policy

COLOMBO (News1st): Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has welcomed the government's decision to reverse its mandatory cremation policy of COVID-19 deceased. "I thank the Sri Lankan leadership & welcome the Sri Lankan govt's official notification allowing the burial option for those dying of COVID-19," Khan who visited the country recently said in a tweet. Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also expressed similar sentiments.

"Pakistan is grateful to the leadership of Sri Lanka for allowing the option of burial for victims of COVID-19," Qureshi said in a tweet a day after the government amended the laws.

U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz also welcomed the government's "long overdue" move. "Hope the change will be implemented immediately to avoid adding to families’ suffering as they mourn those lost to COVID-19," she said in a tweet. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) also said it is "relieved" that the government has restored the right for the burial of COVID-19 victims. It added that the matter would not have been resolved if it not had been included in the report of the UN human rights chief and the proposed UN resolution against Sri Lanka. The SLMC, in a statement, also noted that the concerns raised by the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation at the ongoing UN human rights council sessions also expedited this move. The gazette issued by the Health Ministry amends the orders published in the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance. Accordingly, the amendment made via the gazette notification substitutes the words "cremation of a corpse" with "cremation or burial of the corpse. '' The corpse of a COVID-19 victim shall be buried in accordance with the directions issued by the director-general of health services at a cemetery or place approved by the proper authority under the supervision of such authority.