The petitions seeking the annulment of the Gazette Notification mandating the cremation of bodies of coronavirus patients are set to be considered by the Supreme Court today (01).

The Fundamental Rights petitions were filed by 11 parties including All Ceylon Makkal Congress, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and relatives of the deceased Muslims, challenging the cremation of Muslims who died due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The petitions were be taken up before a three-Judge bench comprising of Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya and Justices Murdu Fernando and Preethi Padman Surasena yesterday (30).

President Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran who appeared on behalf of the petitioners informed the Court that scientific evidence is yet to be presented that the coronavirus further spreads after the burial of a body of a COVID infected patient.

Appearing for the respondent including the Attorney General, Deputy Solicitor General Nerin Pulle pointed out that through these petitions a matter related to health security is brought before the court. Accordingly, he noted that only health experts can take a decision in this regard and added that a court decision cannot be taken in this regard.

The Deputy Solicitor General pointed out that the allegations made by the petitioners in the courtroom that burying the bodies would not have spread the disease could not be accepted as medical experts and scientists were still investigating the spread of the coronavirus