Last Rites for the COVID-19 Victims

Sri Lanka Council Of Religions For Peace 20210208

Statement from the Sri Lanka Council Of Religions For Peace

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Sri Lanka Council of Religions for Peace, (SLCRP) which is a multi-religious organization representing Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim leaders in Sri Lanka, wishes to express its profound gratitude and appreciation to the President, the government and the health authorities for their determined efforts to contain the COVID-19 virus that has plagued our beloved motherland since February 2020. In fact, our country’s success ranks as the 10th best globally in the fight against this devastating pandemic.

However, many people appear to be in panic and are being demoralized due to a certain  lack in recognizing the humanitarian aspects and sensibilities which touch our cultural and religious values, such as a more humane manner of treating those who have contracted the disease and the issue of the last rites being denied to some of them regarding burial of their loved ones who have succumbed to the virus. This issue has come into focus particularly with concerns expressed by some citizens of the country.

We earnestly appeal to all those empowered to take decisions regarding measures to arrest the spread of the virus, treatment of those who are infected, and the burial of the dead to look into the possibility of the rite of burial, considering the views of virologists and especially the guidance of the WHO, since it is in accord with the cultural values and religious beliefs of some of our own brothers.

While appreciating the commitment of the government to the eradication efforts of this virus, we express our gratitude to all health workers for their spirit of dedication in serving the sick and pray that we may soon be blessed to see our motherland free of the pandemic and the entire country restored to health.

 

Signed

Rev. Dr. Leopold Ratnasekera OMI

Co-Secretary General, SLCRP

Tel: 94 764702299

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