Posted on December 29th, 2020
By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy The Island
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauff Hakeem, MP, recently told
The Island that Sri Lanka had no option but to involve India in the development of the deep water facility, the East Container Terminal at the Colombo Port, which has been built to accommodate the largest container ships that ply around the world carrying as many as 16,000 containers (TEUs), like its competing Chinese-run Colombo International Container Terminal also in the more recently built and what is known as the Colombo South harbour.
The Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) Kandy District lawmaker said so in response to the writer seeking an explanation as regards his stand on the issue at hand in the wake of his quite controversial statement on Derana ‘Wadapitiya’, anchored by Chathura Alwis.
ஜனாசாக்களை அடக்கம் செய்ய அனுமதிக்கும் வரை போராடுவோம் - ரவூப் ஹக்கீம்
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Mandatory Cremation for Covid Victims Sparks Outrage among Muslim Community
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Govt. stance a denial of fundamental rights of Muslim community
Says repeated appeals and peaceful protests have failed to resolve issue
Believes Muslims have right to be buried in SL where they have lived as responsible citizens
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) yesterday said it would demand that the Government reverses its unjustified cremation only policy, which is not based on scientific evidence nor World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.
“The SLMC will demand that the Government reverses its unjustified cremation only policy which is not based on epidemiological scientific evidence nor ethically sanctioned based on WHO and UNESCO guidelines governing protocol on COVID-19 disposal of dead bodies,” the party said in a statement.
Meera Srinivasan
The last week has been the worst yet for N.F.M. Fahim’s family residing in Colombo. The 38-year-old and his wife lost their new-born to COVID-19 on December 8, and even before they could process the devastating news from the hospital, authorities were ready to hand over the baby’s ashes to them.
“I did not have the heart to take the ashes. We were already dealing with the shock of losing our son who was just 20 days old, and then to be told he was cremated, which goes against our religious practice, was just unbearable,” said Mr. Fahim, breaking down. He last saw his son on December 7, the night he rushed him to a leading government hospital for children, after noticing the baby’s congestion-like symptoms.