Youth groups urge reversal of cremation policy

COLOMBO (News1st): A coalition of youth associations have urged the government to reverse its policy of mandatorily cremating the bodies of deceased COVID-19 victims. "We urge the government to reverse the mandatory cremation policy in light of the scientific statements brought by experts," Nabeela Iqbal, a member of the Youth for Justice movement said. She pointed out that the policy has affected Muslims and Christians - who engage in the religious practice of burying their deceased. Iqbal observed that scientific evidence has suggested that both cremation and burial of COVID-19 victims can be allowed in all countries. "The World Health Organization has been saying that from day one of the pandemic. Sri Lankan expert committees have been saying this, 185 countries in the world are doing this right now," she noted.