• Latest
  • Trending
Concrete graves

Permission to bury Muslim COVID dead in concrete graves expected in a few days

December 21, 2020
Rahul Gandhi gets two-year jail sentence in “Modi surname” case

Rahul Gandhi gets two-year jail sentence in “Modi surname” case

March 23, 2023
Argentine goalkeeper Leandro Requena scores an outrageous goal direct from a goal kick.

Goalkeeper scores from a goal kick – it could set the record for the longest range goal in history

March 23, 2023
Canada sees record population growth in 2022 from immigration

Canada sees record population growth in 2022 from immigration

March 23, 2023
Moon. Image credits - Ganapathy Kumar / Unsplash

Ramadan fasting in Sri Lanka to commence on Friday

March 23, 2023
Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi: Two-year jail for India’s Congress leader for defamation

March 23, 2023
Will the renewed Sri Lankan bid to set up a Truth Commission bear fruit?

Will the renewed Sri Lankan bid to set up a Truth Commission bear fruit?

March 23, 2023
Mahinda Rajapaksa

Supreme court lifts overseas travel bans imposed on Mahinda Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa

March 22, 2023
Rafael Nadal has won a record 21 Grand Slam men's singles titles

Nadal out of top 10 for first time since 2005

March 22, 2023
Ukraine

IMF staff reaches agreement with Ukraine for $15.6 bln program

March 22, 2023
Exchange Rate

Foreign Currency Official Exchange Rates from Central Bank of Sri Lanka

March 22, 2023
Gold. Image credits - Jingming Pan / Unsplash

Significant drop in Gold prices in Sri Lanka

March 22, 2023
Earthquake. (Representational image: iStock)

11 killed as strong earthquake rattles Pakistan, Afghanistan

March 22, 2023
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Thursday, March 23, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NewsIn.Asia
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Rahul Gandhi gets two-year jail sentence in “Modi surname” case

    Rahul Gandhi gets two-year jail sentence in “Modi surname” case

    Moon. Image credits - Ganapathy Kumar / Unsplash

    Ramadan fasting in Sri Lanka to commence on Friday

    Rahul Gandhi

    Rahul Gandhi: Two-year jail for India’s Congress leader for defamation

    Will the renewed Sri Lankan bid to set up a Truth Commission bear fruit?

    Will the renewed Sri Lankan bid to set up a Truth Commission bear fruit?

    Mahinda Rajapaksa

    Supreme court lifts overseas travel bans imposed on Mahinda Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa

    Exchange Rate

    Foreign Currency Official Exchange Rates from Central Bank of Sri Lanka

    Gold. Image credits - Jingming Pan / Unsplash

    Significant drop in Gold prices in Sri Lanka

    Earthquake. (Representational image: iStock)

    11 killed as strong earthquake rattles Pakistan, Afghanistan

    Importance of “deep sea” biodiversity preservation for Sri Lanka

    Importance of “deep sea” biodiversity preservation for Sri Lanka

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    Canada sees record population growth in 2022 from immigration

    Canada sees record population growth in 2022 from immigration

    Ukraine

    IMF staff reaches agreement with Ukraine for $15.6 bln program

    The Weeknd

    The Weeknd is the world’s most popular artist, Guinness World Records says

    Manchester United. Image credits - Javid Naderi / Unsplash

    Manchester United is for sale, who could buy the world-famous club?

    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    WhatsApp for iOS gets text detection feature: What is it and how to use

    IMF

    Sri Lanka’s world-beating bonds pin hopes on IMF’s billions

    Putin announces partial mobilization for Russians, threatens enemies

    ICC judges issue arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin

    US Commission slams India’s anti-conversion laws  

    US Commission slams India’s anti-conversion laws  

    Plastic bottles. tanvi sharma @exportersindia / Unsplash

    Could waste plastic become a useful fuel source?

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Books
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    The Weeknd

    The Weeknd is the world’s most popular artist, Guinness World Records says

    Naatu Naatu has millions of views on YouTube and is a viral sensation over social media

    Watch: Oscar winning song Naatu Naatu

    Naatu Naatu has millions of views on YouTube and is a viral sensation over social media

    Indian song ‘Naatu Naatu’ from ‘RRR’ wins Oscar award for best song

    Naatu Naatu has millions of views on YouTube and is a viral sensation over social media

    Naatu Naatu: The RRR song primed for Oscar history

    Keanu Reeves

    11 of the best films to watch in March

    Netflix. Image credits - Souvik Banerjee @rswebsols / Unsplash

    Netflix cuts prices for subscribers in more than 30 countries

    Backstreet Boys

    Backstreet Boys to perform in India after 13 years

    Roald Dahl books

    Roald Dahl books rewritten to remove language deemed offensive

    Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix appear in "Joker: Folie à Deux": Image credits - Warner Bros.

    Lady Gaga in first look of ‘Joker’ sequel

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    Happy. Image credits - Lesly Juarez / Unsplash

    The world’s happiest countries for 2023

    Nepal. Image credits - Toomas Tartes / Unsplash

    Nepal bans solo trekkers throughout the country

    Air quality drops to ‘unhealthy’ level in Colombo

    Air quality drops to ‘unhealthy’ level in Colombo

    Scientists discover enzyme that turns air into electricity, providing a new clean source of energy

    Scientists discover enzyme that turns air into electricity, providing a new clean source of energy

    Toblerone chocolates

    Toblerone chocolates to lose “Swissness” criteria

    Significant increase of overweight and obese individuals in Sri Lanka

    Significant increase of overweight and obese individuals in Sri Lanka

    Vistara airlines to resume operations to Sri Lanka

    Vistara airlines to resume operations to Sri Lanka

    International airlines suspend some US flights over 5G uncertainty

    Saying no to inflight meals can help our planet

    Sri Lanka

    Where are 2023s tourists to Sri Lanka coming from?

    Hazardous health: Jaffna’s growing waste crisis

    Hazardous health: Jaffna’s growing waste crisis

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    WhatsApp for iOS gets text detection feature: What is it and how to use

    Nokia

    Nokia changes iconic logo to signal strategy shift

    Selena Gomez and Kylie Jenner

    Selena Gomez dethrones Kylie Jenner on Instagram

    Facebook. Image credits - Solen Feyissa @solenfeyissa

    Facebook & Instagram to test monthly subscription service priced at $11.99

    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    New features introduced in Whatsapp’s latest update

    Microsoft has announced a new version of Bing

    Microsoft unveils new Bing with ChatGPT powers

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
  • Videos
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Rahul Gandhi gets two-year jail sentence in “Modi surname” case

    Rahul Gandhi gets two-year jail sentence in “Modi surname” case

    Moon. Image credits - Ganapathy Kumar / Unsplash

    Ramadan fasting in Sri Lanka to commence on Friday

    Rahul Gandhi

    Rahul Gandhi: Two-year jail for India’s Congress leader for defamation

    Will the renewed Sri Lankan bid to set up a Truth Commission bear fruit?

    Will the renewed Sri Lankan bid to set up a Truth Commission bear fruit?

    Mahinda Rajapaksa

    Supreme court lifts overseas travel bans imposed on Mahinda Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa

    Exchange Rate

    Foreign Currency Official Exchange Rates from Central Bank of Sri Lanka

    Gold. Image credits - Jingming Pan / Unsplash

    Significant drop in Gold prices in Sri Lanka

    Earthquake. (Representational image: iStock)

    11 killed as strong earthquake rattles Pakistan, Afghanistan

    Importance of “deep sea” biodiversity preservation for Sri Lanka

    Importance of “deep sea” biodiversity preservation for Sri Lanka

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    Canada sees record population growth in 2022 from immigration

    Canada sees record population growth in 2022 from immigration

    Ukraine

    IMF staff reaches agreement with Ukraine for $15.6 bln program

    The Weeknd

    The Weeknd is the world’s most popular artist, Guinness World Records says

    Manchester United. Image credits - Javid Naderi / Unsplash

    Manchester United is for sale, who could buy the world-famous club?

    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    WhatsApp for iOS gets text detection feature: What is it and how to use

    IMF

    Sri Lanka’s world-beating bonds pin hopes on IMF’s billions

    Putin announces partial mobilization for Russians, threatens enemies

    ICC judges issue arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin

    US Commission slams India’s anti-conversion laws  

    US Commission slams India’s anti-conversion laws  

    Plastic bottles. tanvi sharma @exportersindia / Unsplash

    Could waste plastic become a useful fuel source?

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Books
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    The Weeknd

    The Weeknd is the world’s most popular artist, Guinness World Records says

    Naatu Naatu has millions of views on YouTube and is a viral sensation over social media

    Watch: Oscar winning song Naatu Naatu

    Naatu Naatu has millions of views on YouTube and is a viral sensation over social media

    Indian song ‘Naatu Naatu’ from ‘RRR’ wins Oscar award for best song

    Naatu Naatu has millions of views on YouTube and is a viral sensation over social media

    Naatu Naatu: The RRR song primed for Oscar history

    Keanu Reeves

    11 of the best films to watch in March

    Netflix. Image credits - Souvik Banerjee @rswebsols / Unsplash

    Netflix cuts prices for subscribers in more than 30 countries

    Backstreet Boys

    Backstreet Boys to perform in India after 13 years

    Roald Dahl books

    Roald Dahl books rewritten to remove language deemed offensive

    Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix appear in "Joker: Folie à Deux": Image credits - Warner Bros.

    Lady Gaga in first look of ‘Joker’ sequel

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    Happy. Image credits - Lesly Juarez / Unsplash

    The world’s happiest countries for 2023

    Nepal. Image credits - Toomas Tartes / Unsplash

    Nepal bans solo trekkers throughout the country

    Air quality drops to ‘unhealthy’ level in Colombo

    Air quality drops to ‘unhealthy’ level in Colombo

    Scientists discover enzyme that turns air into electricity, providing a new clean source of energy

    Scientists discover enzyme that turns air into electricity, providing a new clean source of energy

    Toblerone chocolates

    Toblerone chocolates to lose “Swissness” criteria

    Significant increase of overweight and obese individuals in Sri Lanka

    Significant increase of overweight and obese individuals in Sri Lanka

    Vistara airlines to resume operations to Sri Lanka

    Vistara airlines to resume operations to Sri Lanka

    International airlines suspend some US flights over 5G uncertainty

    Saying no to inflight meals can help our planet

    Sri Lanka

    Where are 2023s tourists to Sri Lanka coming from?

    Hazardous health: Jaffna’s growing waste crisis

    Hazardous health: Jaffna’s growing waste crisis

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    WhatsApp for iOS gets text detection feature: What is it and how to use

    Nokia

    Nokia changes iconic logo to signal strategy shift

    Selena Gomez and Kylie Jenner

    Selena Gomez dethrones Kylie Jenner on Instagram

    Facebook. Image credits - Solen Feyissa @solenfeyissa

    Facebook & Instagram to test monthly subscription service priced at $11.99

    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    New features introduced in Whatsapp’s latest update

    Microsoft has announced a new version of Bing

    Microsoft unveils new Bing with ChatGPT powers

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
  • Videos
NewsIn.Asia
No Result
View All Result
Home Around South Asia

Permission to bury Muslim COVID dead in concrete graves expected in a few days

Editor by Editor
December 21, 2020
in Around South Asia, Coronavirus, Human Rights, Religion, Sri Lanka, Top Story
Reading Time: 5 mins read
128 8
A A
Concrete graves

Concrete graves

146
SHARES
Share on WhatsApp

By P.K.Balachandran/Daily Express

Colombo, December 20: The Sri Lankan government, which had sought to take the bodies of Muslims who had died of COVID 19 to the Maldives for burial, has given up the idea and  is expected to grant, in a few days, permission to bury the bodies in Sri Lanka itself in concrete graves in Muslim graveyards.

After the cabinet spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said that the government had given up the idea of taking the bodies to the Maldives,  top Muslim leaders said that early next week (by Tuesday or Wednesday) the government is expected to finalize the design of the concrete grave (suggested by Muslim leaders) and the various precautions to be followed in burials.   

ADVERTISEMENT

Way back in April, the government had banned burial of the COVID -19 dead on the grounds that it would contaminate ground water as the water table in Sri Lanka was too high. The government had ignored the fact that burial was allowed in all countries except China (and Sri Lanka) and that WHO had sanctioned it. The government also turned a blind eye to the fact that even in Holland and the Maldives where the water table was high, burials were allowed.

But for the Muslims burial was a must as cremation was “haram”. Cremating a body is tantamount to breaking the bones of the person even if he or she is dead.

Muslim leaders then proposed that a Muslim dying of COVID be wrapped in a body bag, put in a concrete grave which will have one and a half feet of soil in it. A chemical could be sprayed on the body bag to let it and the body inside de-compose in a week or so. The Muslims had also submitted a design for the concrete grave.They suggested that the mourners might stand 50 meters away from the grave after spending three minutes beside it to say the customary prayer. The community would help indigent families bear the expenses involved in constructing the concrete grave and in getting a coffin if a coffin is made mandatory.

The government appeared to be open to this suggestion but it was dragging its feet on a decision. Frustrated, some leading Muslims appealed to foreign leaders like Mohamed Nasheed, the Speaker of the Maldivian parliament, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Malaysian Prime Minister and some Muslim leaders in Tamil Nadu, to allow Sri Lankan Muslim bodies to be buried on their soil. The leaders were open to the suggestion but wanted the deal to be a government to government one.

It was at this stage that Mohamed Nasheed sounded the Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa about the idea of sending the bodies to the Maldives. Thereupon, the Lankan President made a formal request this his Maldivian counterpart Ibrahim Solih, who responded favourably and announced that he was talking to stakeholders in the Maldives about the logistics of the exercise.

Even as these diplomatic exchanges were taking place, the Muslims’ cause was being taken up Sri Lankans of other faiths also. They particularly protested against the cremation of a 20-day old baby Shykh. People tied white cloth on the gates and iron railings of the main crematorium in Colombo even though the police kept removing them. There was an all-round condemnation of the government’s insistence on cremating all bodies.

The government kept talking about an “expert committee” which had said that COVID-19 bodies would pollute the soil and ground water. But the composition of the “expert committee” was never made known.  On the other hand, the Muslims and other human rights workers put out statements and videos featuring qualified and internationally known virologists to prove that the government’s contentions were baseless.

Prof. Malik Peiris of the University of Hong Kong said: “If the body is wrapped in water-resistant material and chemicals are used to expedite the process of decay, the possibility of even a residual amount of the COVID-19 infection seeping through the soil and contaminating water is an entirely non-scientific argument. That is a major reason why the World Health Organization and many countries in the world have no problem with burials.”       

Another factor which might have made the government think fresh is the help the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) had to seek from Muslim Members of Parliament when it desperately needed to ensure the passing of the 20 th.Constitutional Amendment (20A) with the required two-thirds majority. The 20A was meant to arm the Executive President (Gotabaya Rajapaksa) with enhanced powers which he had been seeking.   

Although the SLPP alliance had two-thirds majority in the House, defections from its ranks were very much on the cards because not every ruling alliance MP was happy about giving the Executive President the over-riding powers envisaged by the 20A.

It was at this critical juncture that six Muslim MPs from the opposition benches responded to overtures made by the SLPP organizer Basil Rajapaksa to vote for the 20A. The quid pro quo for this great political favour was a solution to the burial issue, Muslim sources revealed.

Election Factor

The other factor making the government think afresh on the burial issue is its anxiety to hold the long pending elections to the nine Provincial Councils for which the support of the Muslims would be necessary.

UNHRC Session

The Rajapaksa government is also worried about Sri Lanka’s case coming up at the March 2021 session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Although the government has dissociated itself from an earlier resolution which it co-sponsored, it has to face resolutions sponsored by other countries. And although the US is not in the UNHRC, its proxies will put forward a resolution in March slamming Sri Lanka on various war time accountability and ethnic reconciliation issues. The US could act tough as its proposal to include Sri Lanka in its Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact with a grant of US$ 480 million, had been spurned.

The Muslim burial issues will be on the top of the litany of complaints at the UNHRC this time. Hence the urgency to solve the burial problem and bring the curtains down on the controversy.

END

Tags: CremationSri Lanka

Related Posts

Rahul Gandhi gets two-year jail sentence in “Modi surname” case
India

Rahul Gandhi gets two-year jail sentence in “Modi surname” case

March 23, 2023
Moon. Image credits - Ganapathy Kumar / Unsplash
Around South Asia

Ramadan fasting in Sri Lanka to commence on Friday

March 23, 2023
Rahul Gandhi
Around South Asia

Rahul Gandhi: Two-year jail for India’s Congress leader for defamation

March 23, 2023
Will the renewed Sri Lankan bid to set up a Truth Commission bear fruit?
Ethnicity

Will the renewed Sri Lankan bid to set up a Truth Commission bear fruit?

March 23, 2023
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Around South Asia

Supreme court lifts overseas travel bans imposed on Mahinda Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa

March 22, 2023
Exchange Rate
Around South Asia

Foreign Currency Official Exchange Rates from Central Bank of Sri Lanka

March 22, 2023
  • Electricity

    Power cut schedule for today in Sri Lanka: Uninterrupted power supply

    60142 shares
    Share 24079 Tweet 15026
  • Registration open for National Fuel Pass

    6636 shares
    Share 2692 Tweet 1644
  • Foreign Currency Official Exchange Rates from Central Bank of Sri Lanka

    1776 shares
    Share 717 Tweet 441
  • WATCH : Yohani’s first live performance in India

    789 shares
    Share 328 Tweet 192
  • Power interruption schedule released: Check your area power cut time

    742 shares
    Share 320 Tweet 176
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2022 All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
  • Around The World
  • Breaking News
  • Business
    • Exchange
  • Climate Change
  • Governance
    • Crime
    • Diplomacy
    • Defense
    • Human Rights
    • Politics
    • Strategic Affairs
  • Lifestyle
    • Books
    • Entertainment
      • Arts
      • Cinema
      • Gaming
      • Music
      • Movie
      • Series
      • TV
    • Health
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
  • Culture
    • Ethnicity
    • Gender
  • Development news
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Coronavirus
  • History
  • National
  • Offbeat
    • Media
    • Music and arts across South Asia
  • Recommended
    • Headlines
    • Highlights
    • Top Picture
    • Top Story
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Cricket
      • LPL
      • IPL
    • Tennis
    • Formula 1
    • NBA
  • Tech
    • Instagram
  • United Nations
  • Weather
  • World
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States
  • Videos

© 2022 All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist