MOHAMMED RASOOLDEEN AND SILMIYA YOUSEF
COLOMBO : A decision has been taken to bury the bodies of COVID-19 victims in Iranaitivu, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said here on Tuesday .
He was speaking at a press conference held today (02) to announce the Cabinet decisions.
According to Minister Rambukwella, a plot of land in Iranitivu in Kilinochchi District has been identified for this purpose.
Iranaitivu is an island. This is implemented in accordance with the instructions given by the health sector on a scientific basis.”
Pointing out that a gazette notification has been issued regarding COVID-19 deaths, the Minister stated that the decision was taken during the discussion held on Monday March 01 regarding the action being taken in this regard.
Commenting further, he said, “Preliminary work in the area has been completed and arrangements are being made to receive COVID- victims bodies. He also said that the transport expenses for the dispatch of the remains to Iranativu will be borne by the government.
Answering a question, Rambukwella said that the guidelines for the burial arrangements will be announced in the course of the day by the technical committee.
Women Human Rights activist, Shreen Saroor told Colombo Times: “ This shows the political will of this government with regard to granting a right enshrined in our constitution. There is no science behind denying burial and now after so much of international pressure they are staging a drama and pitching Muslims against Tamil Catholic who managed to return to iranathivu after 25 years of being in displacement due to navy occupation.”
Former Governor and Leader of the National Unity Alliance said the decision to allow burial only in Iranativu is in violation of all international norms.” The Muslims community has offered several convenient places but the government has gone that far as Iranativu,267 kms away from Colombo to complete the last rites for the Covid victims,” Salley said.
Expressing shock and dismay about the proposed location for burial, Sri Lanka Muslim Council President N.M.Ameen said that the special committee headed by Jennifer Perera,with so many virologists made a set of comprehensive recommendations which has been totally trashed. The government was given several options for burial, there were no good reasons to discard such recommendations.
President of Sri Lanka Islamic Center, Mohammed Hussein Mohammed, former Colombo city father and former island’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia that the Maradana mosque has offered the Kupiyawatte burial ground for burial of Covid remains. He pointed out that a Ground WaterTable Test Report was also recently undertaken at the Kupiywatte burial grounds by the Department of Geology, University of Paradeniya where it was determined that the water table was detected at a depth of 2.5-3.0 Meters which is suitable for Covid-19 deceased burials according to Health Ministry expectations.
Former minister and SLMC Leader Rauf Hakeem said in his twitter “ Banish the bodies to Iranativu! They created the false narrative and wish to prove they were right all along. There is no end to their sadistic pleasure in harassing a hopelessly traumatized community. Pathetic racism prevails!”
Jehan Hameed, prominent businesswoman in the capital said in her twitter : “ Place doesn’t matter to us, as long as we are buried , lets look for other alternatives later. At the moment Muslim general public relieved. There are piles of bodies that needs immediate burial.”
Meanwhile, Parish priest of Iranativu Reverend Father Pathi said in a video statement that some 100 Catholic families are living in Irantivu and they do not like these Covid infected dead bodies to be buried in the village since it’s a tiny hamlet where the water table is very low.” We, the villagers, will stage a protest against this new move on Wednesday not because we dislike the Muslims but we don’t want our village to get infected by the virus.
“ The shocking news of government suggesting burial in Iranthivu islands is a bigger blunder than the forced cremation of over 300 Muslims. Once again the technical committee is held bent on giving Muslims “Ambanaiki” with their racist agenda. The Jeniffer Perera committee clearly approved burial in all Muslim burial grounds subject to strict adherence to quarantine rules and placing the body in double body bags. What more is needed when science has proven beyond any doubt that the corona virus cannot contaminate ground water sources. The dead cannot spread the disease while waste water from quarantine centres would certainly do. How come the bright boys chose an inhibited island if they still believe that the virus can contaminate ground water. No wonder We live in a country like no other,” said Hilmy Ahamed,Vice President,Muslim Council of Sri Lanka
