The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal for the government to issue an apology to the sections of society affected by the compulsory cremation policy implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka.
At a Cabinet press conference held on July 23, Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardena explained that according to guidelines from the Ministry of Health, cremation was mandated for those who died from the virus. As a result, 276 Muslim COVID-19 victims were cremated. In February 2021, burials were permitted under strict restrictions.
Gunawardena noted that in July 2021, with support from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, the then Ministry of Water Supply conducted a study to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus in various water sources around Colombo and Kandy. The study found no virus in surface water.
A subsequent study completed in March 2024 by the China-Sri Lanka Joint Research and Demonstration Center for Water Technology identified that the primary sources of SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission to water sources were faeces and urine, not safe burials.