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Upon receiving a call last night from a member of the family of the unfortunate third COVID-19 deceased, a collective effort began with multiple stakeholders to appeal to the Government to understand the logical reasonings behind burying the deceased...1/10
The reasonings in itself have received wide publicity over the last few days so I need not reiterate much on them. We were told that the final rites of the deceased would occur around 12-1 pm today. These lobbying efforts went on through the night and into the early morning..2/10
culminating at noon in a meeting at Temple Trees with PM @PresRajapaksa, led by @Rauff_Hakeem, @rbathiudeen, AHM Fowzie, Mujeebur Rahman, @FaiszerM, @hmmHarees & myself, along with Party leaders, Min of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Sec Def, Military commanders, IGP & DGHS..3/10
We stated our case providing all valid reasonings, including the fact that the @WHO itself has stated explicitly that burial is possible, moreover implying in their circular that “it is a common myth that persons who have died of communicable diseases should be cremated” &...4/10
...that it is important to preserve the “dignity of the dead, their cultural and religious traditions, and their families should be respected and protected throughout” irrespective of whatever caste, creed, religion, ethnicity they may be..5/10
..We also pointed out that these measures meted by the @WHO are followed by 203 countries worldwide, from the most developed to the least, & if #lka was to make an exception to this, it is the government’s responsibility to provide justification and adequate reasoning....6/10
.. @PresRajapaksa & govt officials gave us a patient hearing, & at the end stated the need to establish a committee comprised of experts in the field to probe & determine accurate practices and regulations to deal with the demise of COVID-19 victims sans unilateral decisions..7/10
..As we exited Temple Trees, I received the very sad news that the deceased had been cremated a short while ago. I’d like to take this opportunity to plead with all of my fellow Sri Lankans. This virus does not discriminate on race or religion. We are in this fight together. 8/10
The best service that we can do to one another in these trying times is treat one other with humanity & mutual respect. My prayers are with the families & loved ones of those that lost their lives to COVID-19. My thoughts are with those that are still in the fight including..9/10
..all of our brave fellow citizens in the medical field,military & essential services who are on the frontlines, and all of those who are doing their part, being diligent & heeding instructions. This too, shall soon pass. Verily do we belong to God, and to Him do we return. 10/10
