Minister of  Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development, Jeevan Thondaman said that he will soon be submitting a Cabinet paper seeking a formal apology from the Muslim community over the forced cremation policy of the previous government during the COVID19 pandemic.

 He made these remarks while taking part in Iftar gathering hosted by him held in Hatton town this week.

The minister apologized to the Muslim community for the mandatory cremation policy enforced during the COVID-19.

However at that time forced cremation was driven by concerns that burial of COVID-19 victims could contaminate water supplies despite several scientific opinions, including that of the World Health Organization, refuting that claim.

Mr Thondaman said that although he only assumed duties in January last year it was still important that as the present Minister responsible for water, he had to take responsibility irrespective of who was sitting in his place before.

The previous Government’s position has now been challenged and refuted by new scientific findings of a study led by experts from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and an update to it by the Joint Research and Demonstration Centre for Water Technology (JRDC) at the University of Peradeniya, a centre under the Ministry of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development.

Therefore with the findings of the study the minister plans to submit a cabinet paper to  formal apology from the Government for the harm and hurt caused to especially the Muslim community from the forced cremation policy

The study from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, investigated the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in surface and wastewater across various locations in Sri Lanka. Conducted between August and December 2021, this research aimed to assess the risk of viral transmission through water, a concern that originally motivated the cremation mandate.

However a comprehensive review of the study by the JRDC analysed the effects of COVID-19-infected bodies' burial on groundwater contamination. Published this year (2024), this review concluded there was no risk to groundwater pollution from properly conducted burials during the pandemic.

The study emphasized that proper burial procedures, including deep burial in sealed body bags, effectively mitigated any risk of environmental contamination. It was also highlighted that the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in various water sources did not stem from burial practices but rather from the faeces and urine of infected individuals, further debunking the initial assumptions that underpinned the cremation policy.