Let all Citizens of Sri Lanka think Scientifically and Sensitively

 





The Maldivian Government has offered to provide burial plots for Sri Lankan Muslims who die due to Covid 19! I am saddened by the fact that we Sri Lankans have not been sensitive enough to the whole issue of Cremating the Covid 19 victims who belong to the Sri Lankan Muslim community, who are Citizens of Sri Lanka. Our insensitivity has paved the way for another country to come forward to perform what we vehemently refuse to perform for no good reason. What a disgrace!

It is time that we Sri Lankan citizens open our hearts and minds and be sensitive towards all persons whose religious beliefs does not permit the cremation of dead bodies. The health authorities have waved the banner of "NO" since 11th April 2020, referring to the Extra Ordinary Gazette no 2170/8 which mandates the cremation of all covid 19 dead bodies, not consider the religious beliefs of the deceased and the family. The question which troubles my mind is, on what premise does the Health Minister makes this Gazette declaration?

The WHO to which our State Health authorities turn for direction has given Interim guidance on 24th March 2020 in which the following guidelines for the safe management of a dead body are clearly stated. Kindly refer to:

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/331538/WHO-COVID-19-lPC_DBMgmt-2020.1-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

 In this guideline you will see the following which should have been taken into serious consideration by the Sri Lankan Health Authorities when issuing the above-mentioned Gazette notification:

  • The dignity of the dead, their cultural and religious traditions and their families should be respected and protected throughout

As Citizens of Sri Lanka let us honestly and sincerely ask - "Are we seriously adhering to this WHO guideline which allows both cremation and burial Covid 19 infected dead bodies?" Cremating the remains of a 20 days old infant without consulting the wish of the parents sounds very criminal. It shows how insensitive we are becoming to the religious beliefs of another in a country that practices the four major religions of the world. This is an issue we the responsible citizens of Sri Lanka should discuss removing our politically coloured glasses

I place before you the following urging you to make your conclusion based on scientific reasoning which is the need of the hour:

The issue of cremating dead bodies is a problem not only to Muslims. There are certain Christian denominations, including the Roman Catholic Church that do not allow Cremations in place of burial for certain Theological and Biblical reasons which guide their beliefs and understanding.

Up to the time of reading this, there is no scientific confirmation to prove that the Covid 19 dead bodies do contaminate the water beds due to the body fluids seeping through the soil.

Professor Malik Peiris, the world-renowned Pathologist & Virologist has this to say:

http://www.newswire.lk/2020/12/15/world-renowned-virologist-prof-malik-peiris-refutes-claims-that-burials-transmit-covid-19-islan/

Professor Malik Peiris refutes the claims that "the burial of dead bodies of COVID-19 victims could lead to the spread of coronavirus, adding that it is nonscientific."

"Viruses can only replicate in living cells, unlike certain bacteria."

"Viruses by definition require living cells to replicate, once a person has died and the cells in his body have died the virus will die."

It is a fact that during the last six or seven months, all the human excretions of our Covid 19 infected have gone into the soil of Sri Lanka. To this day no one has found it to be a danger to our water bed in spreading the Covid 19 virus. If this is so, we have to ask "Which is more dangerous to the water bed, a dead body that is buried or the excretions of a living person released to the soil?"

In fairness to all parties expressing their fear of the burial of Covid 19 dead bodies, what if we find a scientific way of making a water-sealed grave according to state-approved specifications?

As responsible citizens of Sri Lanka let us call upon the Government to revoke the Extra Ordinary Gazette no 2170/8 which mandates the cremation of all covid 19 dead bodies

 

Rev. Asiri P. Perera

Retired President Bishop of the Methodist Church Sri Lanka.

December 22, 2020

Comments

  1. UnknownDecember 22, 2020 at 4:20 PM

    Since WHO has allowed both burial and cremation I cannot see any reason for this forceful cremation. However, giving due consideration to the place of burial, that is the ground level, nature of the soil, nearby wells etc, would be reasonable.

    ReplyDelete

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