Sri Lanka carries out first burial of Covid victims, ending long-standing dispute

March 5, 2021 at 4:27 PM

Sri Lanka carried out the first burials of COVID-19 victims in the Eastern Province today.

Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said two burials were conducted in the Ottamwadi area in Batticaloa.

Meanwhile, the remains of five more COVID-19 victims are also scheduled to be buried at the site today.

Earlier today, the Oddamavadi Divisional Secretary announced that permission was granted to bury the remains of COVID-19 victims in the Soodupaththinachenai area in Oddamavadi, Batticaloa,.

This is the second burial ground to be approved by the Government, after Iranaitivu island in the Gulf of Mannar was announced as the first site this week.

The Soodupaththinachenai area in Oddamavadi, Batticaloa and Irakkamam in Ampara were proposed to be used for the burial of COVID-19 victims in Sri Lanka.

Former State Minister Ali Zahir Moulana said the Koralaipattu West Pradeshiya Sabha in Oddamavadi and Irakkamam Pradeshiya Sabha in Ampara have expressed their willingness to allocate lands for this purpose.

Moulana said via Twitter that preparations for burials to be conducted in the proposed lands were coordinated with the consultation of the Ministry of Health, Institute of Geology, local stakeholders, community representatives and local authorities. (NewsWire)