Last rites of 52 unidentified bodies to take place tomorrow

COLOMBO (News 1st): It has been decided to bury or cremate unidentified bodies which have remained at hospitals for years, Colombo District Secretary Pradeep Yasaratne says.

According to District Secretary Yasaratne, there are 40 unidentified dead bodies at the Colombo National Hospital and 14 unidentified bodies at the Kalubowila Hospital.

Some bodies have remained at the hospital mortuaries since 2017, he added.

The permission to cremate or bury bodies should be taken through the Court, he explained. However the Police DIG of Western Province, Deshabandu Tennakoon has requested for the hospital mortuaries to remain spacious due to the current COVID-19 situation.

Therefore, steps will be taken to cremate and bury the bodies which are currently at hospitals in the Western Province, tomorrow (12).