Final rites of Non-COVID related deaths within 24 hours ; PMD

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to permit for the final rites of individuals who die of non-covid related causes to be performed within 24 hours.

According to the President's Media Division, the decision was made following concerns raised by the families of the deceased who highlighted the economic difficulties they had to face due to the delay in performing final rites.

The PMD said though it was decided to lift travel restrictions on the 14th of June, it was decided to extend the restrictions to 21st June after 101 COVID-19 deaths were reported on the 11th of June. Thereafter the health sector and the intelligence services carried out an extensive investigation on these reports.

"It was revealed that some of these deaths had taken place from 06th February to 11th June, and death certificates were also issued. Some deaths were reported twice as well," said the President's Media Division adding that an extensive investigation revealed that the number of deaths reported on the 11th of June stands at 15 and not 101.

Accordingly, the President had stressed at the meeting the need to make accurate and timely decisions and provide accurate data as well.

The PMD noted that Sri Lanka already received over 04 million doses of the COVID vaccines and another 04 million doses are expected In July, and the State Pharmaceutical Corporation Chairman had pointed out that a higher number of the population will be vaccinated in the future.