Hawzah News Agency - I think we should invite Sri Lankan Muslims to move & live in Maldives. I am surprised that our Government have not done so. I urge the Sri Lankan government to respect their Muslim minority’s wish to have last rites of Covid-19 patients as per our religion!

The announcement follows international backlash to Sri Lanka’s imposition of forced cremations in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite World Health Officials guidance stressing that this was unnecessary, the current administration has refused change course on this policy.

In response, Tamils and Muslims across the North-East have staged protests demanding that the government respect the religious rights of Muslims.

During a virtual cabinet briefing, Sri Lankan government spokesperson, Keheliya Rambukwella reportedly downplayed the issue, maintaining that government’s policy of burials has not been discussed at the Cabinet.