UN asks Sri Lanka to ‘revise’ COVID-19 victims’ burial policy, cites WHO guidelines

On vember 12, UN expressed concern over Sri Lankan government’s COVID-19 victim burial policy and expressed hope that country “will revisit its policy”. In a letter, UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Hanaa Singer told Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa that prohibition of burials of COVID-19 victims was backed by scientific evidence, and as per WHO’s updated interim guidance on 4 September 2020, cremation should be “a matter of cultural choice”. “ common assumption that people who died of a communicable disease should be cremated to prevent spread is t supported,” read content of an official letter, cited by Sri Lanka’s local daily Sri Lanka Mirror. 

According to sources of PTI, island country’s Muslim mirity population has been protesting ban of burials for COVID-19 victims, saying, that cremation of dead body violated religious ritual followed with respect to dead. As per current guidelines by  Sri Lankan Ministry of Health, cremation was listed as only method recommended for disposal of coronavirus bodies. Sri Lankan government formed a panel of health experts for advisory on issue, until n, Sri Lanka’s policy of cremations would be adhered to. However, in letter, Singer emphasized that across world, COVID-19 patients who succumbed to deadly disease were given dignified and safe disposal as per ir choice. 

“I am following with encourment recent media reports that current prohibition of burials of COVID-19 victims in Sri Lanka could be revisited shortly.

In this context, I wish to take opportunity to reiterate concerns of United Nations with existing Ministry of Health guidelines, which stipulate cremation as only method for disposal of bodies suspected of COVID-19 infection,” UN’s singer said. 

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Negative effect on social cohesion

Furr, Singer directed Sri Lankan PM to WHO’s ‘Infection prevention and control for safe manment of a dead body in context of COVID-19’ protocols. “Cremation is a matter of cultural choice and available resources,” UN coordinator said. “I fear that t allowing burials is having a negative effect on social cohesion and, more importantly, could also adversely impact measures for containing spread of virus as it may discour people to access medical care,” she added. As of vember 12, Sri Lanka recorded 15,723 cases of coronavirus and 48 fatalities. 

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