Govt lifts ban on burial of COVID19 victims after months of protests

The Government has lifted a ban on burial of bodies of those persons whose deaths have been caused due to COVID19 bringing an end to months of protests over the issue.

The Extraordinary Gazette notification allowing the burial of bodies of Covid-19 victims was published last night.

However, the Gazette notification says regarding the  burial, “ the corpse of such person 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.”

It was not immediately clear whether the preparation of the list of approved cemeteries would take further time.

The lifting of the ban came a day after Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan also said that he had raised the issue with the government about the burial of COVID 19 victims.

As Prime Minister Khan was arriving in the country Muslim groups held a strong protest outside the President’s office demanding that the ban be lifted.

The issue of burial also figured during the 46th session of the Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva.

The Chairperson of the Office of the  High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)  Michelle Bachelet in her statement at the sessions on Wednesday also referred to the issue.

“The policy of forced cremation of COVID-19 victims has caused pain and distress to the minority Muslim and Christian communities,” she said.

Earlier the Health Ministry defended the ban claiming that the ban on burials was imposed based on scientific evidence and based on advice of an “expert Committee”.

However, the government on its decision to lift the ban have not explained whether the expert committee has reversed its decision.

Gazette notification: http://www.documents.gov.lk/files/egz/2021/2/2216-38_E.pdf

Protests by Muslim groups calling to lift of the ban on burial of COVID19 victims outside the President’s office on Tuesday: 

Pix by M.A. Pushpakumara