Sri Lanka Apologizes for Controversial Forced Cremations

Photo: Reuters

Sri Lanka Issues Apology for Controversial Cremation Policy During Pandemic

On Tuesday, Sri Lanka's government officially apologized for its controversial "cremations only" policy enforced during the COVID-19 pandemic. This policy, which clashed with the religious beliefs of the Muslim community and expert opinions, mandated the cremation of COVID-19 victims despite evidence that burials posed no health risks.

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In a formal statement, the government announced that the Cabinet had approved a joint proposal to issue an apology to all communities affected by the policy. This decision was made during the presidency of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, whose administration implemented the policy.

The government referred to two studies commissioned after the policy was established, which confirmed that burying COVID-19 victims did not pose a threat of virus transmission through the water table. Initially, the policy was based on the claim that cremation was necessary to prevent such transmission.

The policy, which was in effect from April 2020 to February 2021, was widely criticized by Sri Lanka’s Muslim community, which constitutes about 10% of the nation's 22 million people. The Muslim community, along with human rights defenders, had persistently campaigned against the policy. Despite appeals, including a Supreme Court challenge in 2020, the court dismissed the petitions. The policy was eventually reversed after intervention by former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who visited Sri Lanka and raised the issue.

The apology aims to address the distress caused to those who were prohibited from following their religious practices during the pandemic.

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