Cremating Muslim COVID-19 victims had a huge impact on SL’s relations with West Asia

• The Cabinet had opined that the burials should be allowed since it was in accordance with the guidelines set out by the WHO, but the so-called experts’ group did not allow the decision to be taken
• He said, as a Muslim Minister who served at the time, he felt the worst in his life

By Kelum Bandara  

Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, in an interview with Daily Mirror, said that he had sleepless nights whenever a death of a Muslim Covid patient occurred during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka.  

The Minister said the cremation of bodies of Muslim COVID-19 victims had a huge impact on Sri Lanka’s relations with the West Asian countries. He said, as a Muslim Minister who served at the time, he felt the worst in his life. 

He said the Cabinet also opined that the burials should be allowed since it was in accordance with the guidelines set out by the World Health Organizations, but the so-called experts’ group did not allow the decision to be taken.   

(See full interview )