Memorandum on the Disposal of Bodies of COVID-19 Victims

The Muslim and Christian minority communities in Sri Lanka, as a matter of religious ruling and practice, bury their dead. Having initially permitted cremation or burial, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health issued fresh Regulations purportedly under section 2 and 3 of the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance No: 3 of 1987 making it mandatory to cremate bodies of COVID-19 victims irrespective of their faith. This caused great anguish and distress to Sri Lankan Muslims whose scientific and legal fraternity prepared a comprehensive memorandum containing their response to the environmental and public health concerns with regard to burial of COVID–19 victims. On the basis of scientific studies, WHO guidelines and practices of other nations responding to COVID-19, the memorandum argues that the burial of COVID–19 victims does not pose any serious environmental and/or public health risks. The memorandum was submitted to the to the relevant Health and other authorities on April 13, 2020 to enable the said authorities to reexamine the issue and make an appropriate recommendation or in the alternative to instruct the Minister of Health to amend the Regulations currently in force in line with the WHO Guidance to permit to all the option of burial of bodies of COVID-19 victims.