Foreign Minister Ali Sabry today addressed accusations levelled against him, claiming that he had failed to take action against the forced cremation of the Muslim community during the coronavirus pandemic in Sri Lanka.
Addressing the Parliament, Minister Ali Sabry outlined the various attempts he had taken to raise the matter with the then government and the expert committee deciding on the cremation process.
“A monk termed me a ‘terrorist’ because I spoke up against the cremation of the COVID-19 deceased. A court case was also filed in this regard. Leading media outlets provided the stage for this,” he alleged.
Minister Sabry further said that he even discussed the matter with former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan during the latter’s visit to Sri Lanka, requesting him to address the matter with the Sri Lankan Government.
Stating that he had taken various measures to address this situation, the minister said that he had raised the matter with the Cabinet and the committee of experts on several occasions and that he did what was in his power.
“I had two choices, either to give up and run away or to stay back and fight. I am glad that I stood back, fought, and made some sense, which helped us give a decent burial to 3,500 people in Oddamavadi,” he said.
The Foreign Minister acknowledged that the forced cremations were a mistake, adding that it should not occur again in the country. (NewsWire)
