Sri Lanka- Cabinet will not intervene in cremation issue
Date
2/16/2021 1:19:42 AM
(MENAFN- Colombo Gazette) e Cabinet will not intervene in the issue over the cremation of Muslim coronavirus victims.
Cabinet co-spokesman Minister Udaya Gammanpila said a final decision on the matter will be taken by the Director General of health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena.
Responding to the recent statement made in Parliament by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa announcing that burials will be permitted, Minister Gammanpila said the Prime Minister had shared his personal view on the matter.
He said the President, Prime Minister and Cabinet do not have the powers to take a decision in this regard.
Minister Gammanpila said only the Director General of Health Services is vested with powers to take decisions pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic.
'Dr. Gunawardena will receive recommendations from the technical committee appointed to study the coronavirus, and based on the recommendations will issue Gazette notifications. These Gazettes on Covid-related matters will thereafter become laws,' he explained.
The Cabinet co-spokesman further said the existing laws pertaining to COVID-19 remain unchanged as of now.
Minister Udaya Gammanpila expressed these views in response to a question raised by a journalist on the possible difference of opinion within the Government over the burial issue.
Last week (10), Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa informed Parliament that the burial of COVID victims will be permitted .
However, the following day (11), State Minister for Primary Healthcare, Epidemics, and COVID Disease Control Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle told Parliament the burial of the remains of COVID victims in Sri Lanka will be allowed only if the Expert Committee appointed by the Health Ministry approves it .
State Minister Fernandopulle said the Health Ministry's Expert Committee is vested with the powers to take decisions on COVID-related matters and so the decision on burials will also be taken based on the recommendations of the Expert Committee. (Colombo Gazette)
MENAFN16022021000190011042ID1101606996
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.