Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was commended by Opposition politicians and the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Aliana B. Teplitz for his announcement on permitting the burial of Covid victims in Sri Lanka.

Responding a question in Parliament today, Prime Minister Rajapaksa said the Government will permit the burial of Covid victims in Sri Lanka in the future.

Commenting on the decision, Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Eran Wickremeratne said he welcomed the Government’s stance to permit the burial of Covid victims.

He further thanked the Prime Minister “for heeding professional advice, and the expert committee on burials led by Professor Jennifer Perera for elucidating on the science/facts of the matter”.

Meanwhile, All Ceylon Makkal Congress MP Rishard Bathiudeen commended the Prime Minister for his statement.

MP Bathiudeen also expressed hope that the Prime Minister’s words would be turned into action soon and said he along with his party members wish to convey their “heartfelt salutations to all who joined hands to stand for justice”.

The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Aliana B. Teplitz said the US welcomes media reports on the Prime Minister’s announcement to end mandatory cremation of COVID victims.

She further said implementation of a revised practice that is in line with international public health norms and respects religious rites is a positive action.

The Prime Minister’s announcement in Parliament today, comes after much concerns were raised by politicians, civil societies and the international community to halt forced cremations of the remains of Muslim Covid victims.

A number of protests were held by various parties to point out that cremations were against the religious beliefs of the Muslim community.