The United States (US) said that it is disappointed to see that the government and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa are backing away from ending discriminatory cremation policy of COVID-19 victims.
“Disappointed to see that the Government and PM are backing away from ending discriminatory cremation policy. People, including loved ones recently passed, deserve more respect for their rights from a democratic government,” US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz tweeted in her official Twitter handle.
Last week Premier Rajapaksa told the Parliament that the government has decided to allow burial for COVID-19 victims as Muslim groups have been demanding to allow burials in keeping up with their religious beliefs.
However, on the following day, State Minister Sudarshini Fernandopulle informed the House that the “Expert Committee’ appointed by the Health Ministry will take the final decision, backtracking from the Primer Rajapaksa’s announcement.
A Sri Lankan man was apprehended at Suvarnabhumi airport for attempting to smuggle wildlife out of the country after three ball pythons were found hidden in his underwear, the Bangkok post reported.
The UK government has unveiled a package of reforms to simplify imports from developing countries which allows for more garments manufactured in Sri Lanka to enter the UK tariff-free.
Read these and more on tomorrow’s edition of the Sunday Times
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