Apr 03, Colombo: The State doctors’ trade union, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) suggests the government to consult experts in the relevant areas to decide on the method to dispose COVID-19 infected bodies.

The GMOA points out that while the WHO Guidelines allow both cremation and burial of the bodies of COVID-19 affected patients, the final authority to decide which method to use lies with the government.

In a letter to the Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe, and copied to the relevant authorities including Minister of Health, GMOA said they have been informed that the Quarantine Act allows the option of both cremation and burial as methods of disposal.

“According to the aforementioned act, the final authority regarding this issue lies with you. Further, according to WHO guidelines too, both methods of disposal are allowed.”

“Hence, we strongly suggest your good offices to consult a team of experts in all relevant areas such as Public Health, Virology, Judicial Medicine, Legal and Soil Analysis, and decide on the best course of action with regard to the method of disposal of such COVID infected bodies,” the GMOA wrote.

The cremation of two COVID-19 infected Muslim patients in violation of Muslim burial rites has caused anguish in the Muslim community in Sri Lanka.