• People would not be charged for cremation of COVID-19 bodies

Minister of Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Government Janaka Bandara Tennakoon said people would not be charged for the cremation of COVID-19 bodies. 

He said this in a Zoom meeting with the heads of the local authorities on August 12. The meeting has been convened to inquire into reasons for the delay in the cremation of COVID-19 bodies. 

A statement from the Ministry said even non-COVID-19 bodies had piled up at hospital morgues due to the inability of their relatives to reach hospitals amidst the pandemic. The statement said there is a similar delay in the identification of COVID-19 bodies since relatives found it difficult to reach hospitals in time. 
Also, the hospital authorities refer such bodies for cremation at the nearest crematorium leading to a delay in dispensing with them in time. 

The Minister instructed the local authorities not to charge people for cremations of bodies of their loved ones since the government had decided to bear the cost involved. Gas shortage, lack of trained workers, and need for repairs of crematorium after increased frequency of use are reasons.