SILMIYA YOUSUF
COLOMBO : Following the government’s gazette notification regarding the permission for the burial of Covid infected dead bodies, the board of trustees of the Maradana Mosque has urged the Ministry of Health to utilize the Kupiyawatte Burial Grounds for such burials.
In a letter addressed to Dr. Asela Gunawardena,Director General of Health Service, the Trustees of the Maradana Mosque (Inc.), delivered on Monday March 1, have requested the Kupiyawatte Muslim Burial Grounds which is managed by the Mosque to utilize for Covid-19 deceased burials in terms of the Extraordinary Gazette No: 2216/38 —Thursday 25th February 2021 issued by the Minister of Health.
The letter signed by the Secretary to the board of trustees of the mosque, A.W.S.Marikar has 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.
The Trustees also said that they will conform to whatever additional guidelines issued by the Health Ministry in such operations.
Meanwhile, the Colombo Times learned that the government has tentatively picked six areas in the island for such purposes , they include, Puttalam, Kinniya, Oddamawady, Mannar,Samanthurai, Irrakamam.
According to sources, the transport of dead bodies to the nearest Puttalam burial grounds will cost more than Rs70,000 and other expenses would cost another Rs 30,000.
