Covid Deaths; Cremation or Burial ?

The Covid pandemic is ravaging the country. Those responsible for its control appear to be still wondering which way to go. Whether those competent in controlling epidemics are actually in charge of the campaign is being openly questioned by the people. It appears that the politicians and the armed forces are in the forefront while the scientific community has taken a back seat.

Diverting attention from the main issues is the dispute about the need for compulsory cremation of those dying of Covid imposed by the authorities. This has caused much consternation specially among Muslims who claim that according to Islamic edicts only burial is allowed under all circumstances. Muslims have devoutly adhered to this practice throughout history. This has become a very sensitive issue for the community causing much racial disharmony, aggravating the misunderstanding and potential for open conflict already existing.

It is claimed that after burial of infected bodies there is a possibility of contamination of the underground sources of water and hence future eruption of epidemics. However there is no scientific evidence shown by the proponents to infer that the virus can survive underground. The Corona virus itself is not a complete living organism and can survive only in a living cell. How it can thrive inside a dead body buried six feet underground in the warm soil is beyond comprehension. A few sporadic reports of the virus being isolated in the excreta of patients and in the water supply or sewage effluent in some cold climates do not say whether such isolates are infective or not. So far the only confirmed route of transmission is through the respiratory tract from an infected person. There are no reliable reports of spread by any other means.
Thus the World Health Organization (WHO) from the very outset has given clear guidelines on the disposal of bodies of those dying of Covid.  It recommends cremation or burial with proper precautions depending on the ground conditions and the cultural practices. Almost all the countries in the world are following such advice with no dispute.
However the authorities in Sri Lanka have failed from the very beginning to take a firm decision on this matter. By its indecision it has allowed the religious leaders, politicians and others with their own personal agendas to get involved in the controversy. The opinion given by some academics in geology with no expertise in viral diseases has muddied the waters further. What should have been decided purely on scientific evidence, studied by a committee of experts, has now escalated into a serious social issue with potential harmful consequences. Some are naïve enough to suggest that “in one country, one law” should apply. Obviously such norms apply only to statutory laws (which anyway are openly flouted in this country) and not to diverse cultural practices in a multiethnic society.  The argument that Buddhists themselves have to forgo customs like pansakula does not hold ground as they can always find ways to perform such albeit with some restrictions.
As of now there doesn't seem to be any firm scientific basis for denying the Muslims their fundamental rite of burying the dead. If  evidence to the contrary emerges  at any time in the future the position should be reconsidered.

It is quite natural but unfortunate that the apparent reluctance of the authorities to make a decision leads to various interpretations. Thus it has been suggested that since the present government is alleged to have come to power by openly exploiting religious and racial differences, it is keeping its acolytes happy by denying basic funeral rites of a minority community  as punishment  for not supporting them.

It is never too late to make amends and make a firm decision on this sensitive issue without allowing it to explode out of control.

- A Sri Lankan with Common Sense