The bodies of five Covid victims have remained in the Police mortuary in Colombo for a long period due to relatives refusing to provide consent for the final rites, the Aruna newspaper said.
The Judicial Medical Officers and Public Health Inspectors have informed the Health Ministry that the bodies have remained at the mortuary as a result of family members refusing to provide consent and coffins for the cremation.
Bodies of Covid victims must be cremated within 24-hours of demise as per health guidelines, however there is a delay in cremating the five bodies due to this reason.
Among the bodies at the Police mortuary, two are from Slave Island, and one each from Maradana, Maligawatte and Fort. (NewsWire)