In a letter to Prime Minister Rajapaksa, the UN envoy to Sri Lanka, Hannah Singer, called for a reconsideration of the decision to make it compulsory for all those who die of Covid-19 infection.
Worldwide, the letter points out that the safe and dignified end of patients who tragically die from the virus is an important part of the response to the epidemic.
She said recent media reports were encouraging that the order to bury all those affected by Covid-19 in Sri Lanka could be reconsidered soon, adding that in this context, cremation is currently the only method of disposing of bodies suspected to be infected with Covid-19. He also pointed out that he would like to re-emphasize the UN considerations with the existing guidelines of the Ministry of Health