President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced plans to introduce new legislation allowing citizens to choose between burial or cremation, respecting their personal wishes.
President Wickremesinghe addressed the challenges suffered by the Muslim community during the Covid-19 outbreak, mainly because of the government’s required cremation policy, when speaking at the “Puluwan Sri Lanka” victory rally in Kattankudy. He apologized for the suffering that Muslim families had to endure since they were unable to bury their loved ones in line with their religious convictions.
A special committee will be formed to look into the circumstances surrounding the forced cremation policy, the President further disclosed. He also promised that the impacted families would receive compensation.