COLOMBO: The Muslim community underwent the worst experience under the hands of the deposed president Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the Covid crisis in the country, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader, Rauf Hakeem said here on Saturday,Aug.20.
Hakeem was speaking to a distinguished crowd in Colombo on Saturday, August 20. at a book launch : “ Personalities in our history” authored by Zakiya Sideeque Fareed, a school teacher.
The launching ceremony was held under the chairmanship N M Ameen while former minister and leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Rauf Hakeem was the chief guest.
“ It was a painful experience when bodies of Muslim Covid victims were cremated much against the wishes of the members of the community,” he said, recalling that the Muslims were subject to harassments and anxiety and their repeated appeal to withdraw cremation fell on the deaf ears of the government.
He also recalled the submissions made by the foreign Muslim ambassadors to the foreign minister to stop forced cremation were also trashed by the government. “ This is a painful tragedy in the annals of the Sri Lanka Muslims which has to be memorialized in our history.”
Hakeem said that a tree should be planted after each name of the deceased who was cremated.” There should be a plantation of such trees to show our future generation of the pains, and embarrassments caused to the community members,” Hakeem said.
