Muslim Issues

People who die of COVID-19 would be allowed to be buried, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.The Prime Minister said this in parliament in response to a question raised by SJB MP S.M. Marikkar.MP Marikkar said State Minister Sudarshani Fernandopulle, who responded to a question raised by MP Rohana Bandara, told Parliament yesterday that COVID19 is not transmitted through water.He …

At time of a pandemic, the issue of creamation or burial is neither religious nor political, but scientific. This is in response to the opinion expressed by Tharindu Dananjaya Weerasinghe in The Island of 13 January, on the burial issue.The writer argues that the issue of cremation, or burial, should not be decided by politics or by religion. In other words, …

While saying that US stand with all families who have lost loved ones to this Covid-19 pandemic, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz said their rights and dignity should be respected by permitting the observance of their faith in accordance with international public health guidelines.“Ratified by Sri Lanka in 1955, UDHR Article 18 states that everyone has the …

His Excellency Mr. Imran KhanPrime Minister of Pakistan14th January 2021Dear Prime Minister, Assalamu Alaikum!RE: FORCED CREMATION OF COVID-19 VICTIMS IN SRI LANKAWe, the undersigned Sri Lankan Muslim organisations in the UK, USA, Europe, Canada and Australia understand that your excellency is due to visit our motherland, Sri Lanka in the near future. Whilst appreciating your plan and wishing the diplomatic …

Scientific approach to the cremation of remains that die of COVID-19 should be adopted while respecting the beliefs of the Muslim community, National People’s Power (NPP) MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.He told Parliament that ignoring Muslim community’s belief would lead to communal unrests.“We accept that there should be a scientific approach with regard to victims of COVID-19. However, beliefs …

Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi today asserted that the decision taken by the experts’ committee to cremate all COVID-19 related dead bodies will not be changed on any social, religious, political or personal grounds.She told Parliament that the decision of the expert committee is to cremate all COVID-19 related dead bodies and added that the government will firmly implement that recommendation.“Recommendation …