• About us
  • Contact us
Thursday, September 28, 2023
No 1 epaper in Sri Lanka
  • News
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Foreign
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Political Analysis
  • Inside Politics
  • EPAPERPDF
  • සිංහලSINHALA
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Foreign
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Political Analysis
  • Inside Politics
  • EPAPERPDF
  • සිංහලSINHALA
No Result
View All Result
Mawratanews.lk | Sri Lanka Latest Sinhala News and Headlines
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Foreign Minister Ali Sabry says Sri Lanka’s decision to cremate victims of COVID-19 was built on a lie propagated by two individuals using the media.

November 30, 2022
in News
A A
Foreign Minister Ali Sabry says Sri Lanka’s decision to cremate victims of COVID-19 was built on a lie propagated by two individuals using the media.

But he stops short of a mea culpa and claims that the entire cabinet had opposed the move.

 A controversial decision by Sri Lanka under the presidency of Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2020, 2021 to cremate victims of COVID-19, including Muslims and Christians, was built on a lie propagated by two individuals using the media, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said, stopping short of a mea culpa and claiming that the entire cabinet had opposed the move.

“It was unfortunate that Sri Lanka chose to deny burial to COVID-19 victims when all the evidence suggested otherwise.” “It was a decision that was devoid of logic, science, and empathy, and one that should not have been made,” Sabry tweeted on Wednesday, November 30.

The minister has faced harsh criticism from human rights defenders and from members of the Muslim community for what they claim was his silence in the face of the inhuman, unscientific decision.

The government’s stubborn insistence on cremating Muslim and Christian victims of the virus, going against the religious believes, drew widespread condemnation and the concern of Muslim countries and leaders.

In a speech made in parliament on Tuesday, Sabry claimed that the cabinet at the time had been united in its opposition to the decision. He did not, however, explain why no minister went on record speaking up against it at the time, or even later.

“There were many allegations levelled against me, especially from the Muslim community, that I did nothing. But I know I brought this up at cabinet meetings on five occasions.

“Everyone in the cabinet was of the view that if everyone in the world was [allowing burials], if the WHO had recommended it, why wouldn’t we? We would be seen as a barbaric country,” said Sabry.

“Let’s not blame everything on politicians,” he added. A doctor and a known female academic had gone on the media claiming that if COVID-19 bodies were buried, the virus could leak out millions of years from now, the minister said.

“But the 11th grade science book tells us that for a virus to be alive for more than 24 hours, it needs a live cell.

“Who lied and made a thing out of it? It was the media that did it. Some media personnel were our personal friends. We called them and asked them why they were propagating this lie. But they too were powerless to reverse the narrative,” the minister said.

In his speech, Sabry bemoaned what he called the “complete loss” of support from the Middle East.

“We cannot go it alone in this complex world. We need to connect with everyone,” he said. 

It was unfortunate Sri Lanka chose to deny burial of Covid-19 victims when all the evidence suggested otherwise. It was a decision that was devoid of logic,science & empathy, and one that should not have been made. pic.twitter.com/jlumY6JR1D

— M U M Ali Sabry (@alisabrypc) November 30, 2022
Share50Tweet32Send
Previous Post

Who is this millionaire trying to capture Jaffna..?

Next Post

Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by 4 wkts.

MORE NEWS

Danushka cleared of sexual assault charges I Sri Lanka Latest News
News

Danushka cleared of sexual assault charges I Sri Lanka Latest News

September 28, 2023
The court sentences 13 to death! Kalutara 8 and Colombo 5 I Sri Lanka Latest News
News

The court sentences 13 to death! Kalutara 8 and Colombo 5 I Sri Lanka Latest News

September 28, 2023
After growing cannabis, Diana starts brewing ‘kasippu’! VIDEO I Sri Lanka Latest News
News

After growing cannabis, Diana starts brewing ‘kasippu’! VIDEO I Sri Lanka Latest News

September 28, 2023
Is it a thief inside the Ambalantota divisional secretariat office? The safe is opened with the key! 15 lakhs have been stolen! I Sri Lanka Latest News
News

Is it a thief inside the Ambalantota divisional secretariat office? The safe is opened with the key! 15 lakhs have been stolen! I Sri Lanka Latest News

September 28, 2023
Thundershowers in most parts of the country – Met dept.  I Sri Lanka Latest News
News

Thundershowers in most parts of the country – Met dept. I Sri Lanka Latest News

September 28, 2023
Thilipan celebrated despite prohibitions; amidst rain in North and East VIDEO I Sri Lanka Latest News
News

Thilipan celebrated despite prohibitions; amidst rain in North and East VIDEO I Sri Lanka Latest News

September 27, 2023
Load More

Free Newsletter

Register for our weekly epaper for latest news updates.

MORE NEWS

Danushka cleared of sexual assault charges I Sri Lanka Latest News
News

Danushka cleared of sexual assault charges I Sri Lanka Latest News

September 28, 2023

Sri Lankan cricketer Dhanushka Gunathilake has been found not guilty of...

Read more
The court sentences 13 to death! Kalutara 8 and Colombo 5 I Sri Lanka Latest News

The court sentences 13 to death! Kalutara 8 and Colombo 5 I Sri Lanka Latest News

September 28, 2023
After growing cannabis, Diana starts brewing ‘kasippu’! VIDEO I Sri Lanka Latest News

After growing cannabis, Diana starts brewing ‘kasippu’! VIDEO I Sri Lanka Latest News

September 28, 2023
Is it a thief inside the Ambalantota divisional secretariat office? The safe is opened with the key! 15 lakhs have been stolen! I Sri Lanka Latest News

Is it a thief inside the Ambalantota divisional secretariat office? The safe is opened with the key! 15 lakhs have been stolen! I Sri Lanka Latest News

September 28, 2023
Thundershowers in most parts of the country – Met dept.  I Sri Lanka Latest News

Thundershowers in most parts of the country – Met dept. I Sri Lanka Latest News

September 28, 2023
ComBank conducts hackathon for staff to display problem-solving ingenuity I Sri Lanka Latest Business News

ComBank conducts hackathon for staff to display problem-solving ingenuity I Sri Lanka Latest Business News

September 27, 2023
Load More

One of the best Sri Lanka Latest News Website and Sinhala language newspaper with Sunday editions, published by Free Media Independent Networks Pvt Ltd.

Browse by Category

  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Foreign
  • Gallary
  • Gurudawa
  • My Serendib
  • News
  • Politics
  • Rajya Rahas
  • Sports
  • Uncategorized

Latest news

Danushka cleared of sexual assault charges I Sri Lanka Latest News

Danushka cleared of sexual assault charges I Sri Lanka Latest News

September 28, 2023
The court sentences 13 to death! Kalutara 8 and Colombo 5 I Sri Lanka Latest News

The court sentences 13 to death! Kalutara 8 and Colombo 5 I Sri Lanka Latest News

September 28, 2023

Free Newsletter

Register for our weekly epaper for latest news updates.
  • About us
  • Contact us

Copyright © 2019 -2021 Free Media Independent Networks Pvt Ltd, All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Foreign
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Political Analysis
  • Inside Politics
  • EPAPER
  • සිංහල

Copyright © 2019 -2021 Free Media Independent Networks Pvt Ltd, All Rights Reserved.

Go to mobile version