By Ameer Ali –
“The world suffers a lot. Not because of the violence of bad people. But because of the silence of good people.” ~ Napoleon Bonaparte
The issue of burying or cremating Muslims died of Covid-19 has created terrible consternation and feeling of bitterness within the Muslim community both inside and outside Sri Lanka. This is understandable, because rules of Islam prohibit cremation except under extreme circumstances such as when dead bodies threaten to spread a deadly infection through the buried. So far there is absolutely no evidence for such occurrence in the case of death through Covid-19. Yet, in Buddhist Sri Lanka, based on a spurious below-ground water level argument advanced by an establishment epidemiologist, GR-MR duumvirate is hell bent on cremating Muslim bodies, come what may. Underlying this resolve however, is a Buddhist supremacist agenda to enforce the principle of ‘one-country-one-law’, about which more to be said later.
Meanwhile, a series of complaints, concerns and protests from local Muslim journalists and academics, Muslim parliamentarians, the Sri Lanka Muslim Council, All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulema, and more importantly, from peace loving non-Muslim activists and civil right groups have fallen on rulers’ deaf ears. Internationally, WHO has appealed to all governments to respect the respective religious and cultural rites of those died of Coronavirus. Finally, the United Nations Rapporteur has also intervened and written to President GR reminding him of the same. In spite of all this, there is an arrogant grand standing from the President and his Prime Minister. They will not budge because, from the regime’s point of view, cremating dead Muslims is a vote-worthy exercise, which is vital to win the forthcoming General Elections with two-third majority.
To understand the obstinacy of the two leaders, one has to go back and review the events that shaped the 2019 Presidential Election and GR’s victory. True, the yahapalana regime was so unpopular and discredited that GR would have easily crossed the bar. However, with too many candidates on the run and the two ethnic minorities were not supporting GR, opinion makers and political pundits were betting on a result that would depend crucially on preference votes, which could have tilted the odds in favour of SP. It was this fear that made Buddhist supremacists to work overtime, and canvass among the Sinhala voters to convince them of a hidden threat from Muslims. The 2019 April Easter Massacre by Jihadists was a manna from heaven to the hate campaigners. GR won as a result with a clear majority, and became eternally beholden to the agenda of supremacists.
During that campaign a number of allegations, which are yet to be proved, raised against Muslim politicians and Muslim professionals by a few malevolent Buddhist monks, notably by Ven. Athureliye Rathana Thera of JHU and his firebrand colleague Ven. Ate Gnanasara Thera of BBS, were actually aimed at whipping up hatred against Muslims among Buddhist voters. Rathana Thera’s highly publicised drama of fast unto death at the Holy precincts of Maligawa, was especially designed to provoke that hatred, which resulted in the wholesale resignation of Muslim Governors, ministers and deputies. He also relentlessly campaigned for the takeover by government of the so called Sharia University, which is now a quarantine centre for Covid-19 victims. He finally concluded his 2015-2019 parliamentary term by introducing a Private Member Bill for the abolition of the controversial Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act. In addressing the House on that bill Rathana Thera raised the idea of one-country-one-law, although he did not specify which matrimonial and divorce law that he preferred. Needless to say, it is that idea of legal homogenisation proposed by Rathana Thera, which is currently reverberating along the corridors of power regarding Muslim cremation.
Even before GR dissolved the parliament in March, and the Election Commissioner set the date for an election, the two monkish rabble rousers were nagging the duumvirate that their allegations against Muslim leaders and a Muslim gynaecologist had not been investigated, while another supremacist monk warned GR and MR that if the monks could send them to power they could also bring them down. To make matters worse for the rulers, Rathana and Gnanasara decided to form an independent political party, Ape Jana Balaya Pakshaya (AJBP), with the support of an estimated 800 monks backed by big capital. It is public knowledge that Gnanasara’s BBS is totally anti-Muslim in its policies and actions, and is even said to be commanding foreign support. Didn’t he say that he wanted to ‘mould’ the Muslim mind to cleanse it of fundamentalism? Although the candidacies of Ganansara and another from AJBP have been rejected by the Election Commissioner, one is not sure about the future role of AJBP in the election campaign. In the meantime, the government’s tough stand on the issue of Muslim cremation will certainly be music to AJBP and would appease its members.
As far as GR and MR are concerned they cannot afford to antagonise the monkish mavericks and their larrikin supporters who are demonstrably Islamophobic, and have the capacity to make inroads into the Sinhala Buddhist vote bank. At the same time, sections of the Sinhala mainstream and social media are relentless in spreading anti-Muslim hatred. This premeditated and generously funded hate campaign unleashed by a combination of media magnates, clergy and politicians against an entire community, and making it the scape goat not only for coronavirus spread but also other social evils is, a dangerous game played under the watchful eyes of GR and MR. Their refusal to intervene and stop it, and rescind the decision on Muslim cremation, amid opposition from several quarters, speaks volumes about their hidden political agenda.
In the middle of all this, it appears that the regime has conveniently forgotten one important episode after the Jihadists’ Easter infamy, when the Muslim community in a rare instance of unity refused to perform its religiously obligated burial rites on the dead bodies of those murderers. It showed that when national interest is in jeopardy Muslims will not be hesitant to shun even religious commands. That situation has not risen in the case of coronavirus deaths. Therefore, the only rationale for GR and MR to remain unyielding to disallow Muslims to bury their Covid-19 victims is political expediency.
It is unfortunate that over the last seventy two years Sri Lankan politics has chosen the communal path to make and unmake governments. From Indian Tamils to Sri Lankan Tamils, and from Burghers to Muslims every minority community has borne the brunt of communal hatred from Sinhala Buddhist supremacists. Muslims are the latest victims of this hatred, and their trodden path of survival through supporting the wining party has lost its magical power. They are going to be the sacrificial lambs in the battle for two-third majority for SLNPS at the next election. The cremation issue is sharpening the knife.
The Oracle / April 15, 2020
The intransigence of some Sri Lankan Muslims at the time of a crisis which has affected the lives of twenty two million people is quite shameful. They’d
do well to follow the Christians who are showing remarkable compassion and understanding.
/
Ashan / April 15, 2020
Do explain what the Muslims have done to disrupt the crisis going on right now? Are they having violence protests, or are they, as allowed by any democracy, asking for consideration? Good leadership would have given them fair hearing, and negotiated with them, the minority, to come to some compromise. It seems the intransigence is coming from those who are exaggerating the reactions. There are no violent protests, no strikes, and it is not costing the nation anything.
/
Hela / April 16, 2020
Ashan,
The medical experts in SL that I have spoken to confirmed the existence of Muslim factor in the spread of COVID-19 in SL. So there is no need for violent protests. Silent spread of the killer virus is good enough. All communities in SL have to curb their liberties (religious and community). This is not only for Muslims. But Muslims intransigence has created space for oppositional forces and their media hounds to amplify it as bogus discrimination. GR and MR have rightfully taken a stand applied to all communities in a consistent basis. A bogus victimhood approach is detrimental to Muslims and earlier their community leaders realise it the better. Though their narrow mindednes may not allow it.
/
Ashan / April 16, 2020
Who were the “medical experts”, from the BBS? No surprise. These unnamed “medical experts” must also be ignorant. The racists in Sri Lanka have turned this crisis into an anti Muslim issue. It should make anyone wonder what religion they belong to that will condone this kind behavior.
SriLanka is the only nation to count the victims using religion, and casting blame. Not even in the US or Britain, where the numbers are high, do they cast blame on the religions. Sri Lankans become evil at time like this. Hatred, ignorance, and racism, raising it’s head again.
Commenters are lying and taking the opportunity to attack other religion. Gutter behavior. What a shame.
/
Ashan / April 15, 2020
Do explain what the Muslims have done to disrupt the crisis going on right now? Are they having violence protests, or are they, as allowed by any democracy, asking for consideration? Good leadership would have given them fair hearing, and negotiated with them, the minority, to come to some compromise. After all they are asking the government to consider what the WHO has already okayed, nothing more.
It seems the intransigence is coming from the other side, and those who are exaggerating the reactions. There are no violent protests, no strikes, and it is not costing the nation anything. This is simply an opportunity for the anti Muslim campaign, to make mountains out of molehills.
/
Amarasiri / April 15, 2020
Dr. Ameer Ali,
“In spite of all this, there is an arrogant grand standing from the President and his Prime Minister. They will not budge because, from the regime’s point of view, cremating dead Muslims is a vote-worthy exercise, which is vital to win the forthcoming General Elections with two-third majority.”
Thanks for keeping this in the front burner. The debate should be evidence-based, not racism-based. If the pandemic spreads there will be more cremations and burials. Muslims should, along with everybody else take EXTRA precautions, to prevent getting and spreading the egalitarian COVID-19 virus
Of course they are playing to their audience, just like the Sri Lankan Muslim politicians and other groups.
The Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhists” want to display their racism and stupidity , mean Measured IQ 79. The Para-Sinhala should go after the WHO and the Chinese, just the same way President Donald Trump is doing.
If there is NO RISk of further contamination and spread of the virus, and if the body can be buried without any undue risk and without extreme hardships to those who are burying, the BELIEFS , should be respected. The absence of definitive evidence for their beliefs is a different story, it is simply belief in the soul, where it is in the living dead etc.
While the concern for cremation is the same for the Jews and Christians, the Muslims take burial very seriously, probably believing that the soul is still with the body after death until sometime, after burial, and the Angel come and make their report on their accountability during life, to determine if they belong in Heaven or Hell for eternity. This is belief.
/
Roger / April 15, 2020
Cremation is a option in Christianity:
For centuries, however, Christians have mostly rejected cremation as an acceptable treatment of the remains of loved ones. A biblical reason for this was that the patriarchs and prophets, priests and kings, princes and peasants, were buried in graves or tombs. Cremation was seen as a punishment or curse, not a common treatment of mortal remains (Gen. 38:24; Num. 11:1; Deut. 12:31; Josh. 7:25; 2 Kings 17:17; Ps. 106:18; Isa. 33:12). A theological reason for this was a belief in the bodily resurrection, in which what remained of mortal bodies would be raised anew, glorified, and transformed immortal, never to die again (John 6:28–29; 1 Cor. 15:52; Phil. 3:21; 1 Thess. 4:16). So the burning of remains was often associated with Eastern and Pagan religious traditions that viewed the physical body as an inferior, evil substance to be escaped or overcome rather than a part of God’s original good creation and a partaker in His future redemption.
Yet today many Christians are overcoming the traditional biblical and theological gag reflex associated with cremation by embracing it as a legitimate option
/
Amarasiri / April 16, 2020
Dr Ameer Ali,
This is how they take care of the dead in Israel and Palestine. They don’t cremate. There are no Sinhala Buddhists racists there.
Death in the Holy Land: Coronavirus changes burial for Jews, Muslims.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-israel-palestinian/death-in-the-holy-land-coronavirus-changes-burial-for-jews-muslims-idUSKBN21K0PT
In Israel, Jewish dead are normally laid to rest in a cloth smock and shroud, without a coffin. Now, the bodies of coronavirus victims are taken for ritual washing – performed in full protective gear – wrapped in impermeable plastic.
They are wrapped again in plastic before interment.
“Feelings are very much mixed,” said Yakov Kurtz, who works for Chevra Kadisha, the main group overseeing Jewish burials in Israel. “We don’t know what to expect, we don’t know how many dead we will have to tend to. There are many fears.”
New decrees for handling the coronavirus dead have been given for Muslim burials, said Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories.
“This is a rule of necessity and necessities allow for prohibitions, therefore the deceased is not washed, nor shrouded and is buried in a plastic body-bag,” Hussein said.
Israel has reported 29 coronavirus deaths so far. The Palestinians have confirmed one fatality so far.
Funerals and mourning rituals have changed for everyone since Israeli and Palestinian authorities imposed stay-at-home directives and restricted the size of public gatherings to try to halt the spread of infection.
/
Eagle Eye / April 15, 2020
Muslims are getting blamed for hiding and spreading the virus. Also Easter Sunday is getting closer. These guys are trying to divert attention from their blunders.
AA and KD can keep on screaming ‘Sinhala Supremacists’, ‘Buddhist Supremacists’, Sinhala Buddhist Supremacists’. Two legged creatures will keep on barking but Rajapakshe caravan will move.
/
Amarasiri / April 15, 2020
Eagle Confused Eye,
These are two separate events.
Easter Sunday was the result of the Devil following Wahhabi-Salafi Ideology of Saudi Arabia, which the vast majority of Muslims opposed, and condemned. The egalitarian virus has closed down the the two Holy Mosques of Mecca and Medina, the Prince, MBS who Dissolved Kamal Kassagogi, has declared a unilateral ceasefire in Yemen.
//
The Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhists “, who have shown their racism, explicitly and implicitly, have accused the Muslims without evidence, for the China virus, now called COVID-19, when everyone knows it was introduced first, F1, by the Chinese and later by the Europeans and the Sri Lankans, who have been to Europe, F2.
//
Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhism “, called monk-prostrating Buddha-Agama, is a distortion of Buddhism and is an insult to the Buddha.
//
“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, unless it agrees with your own reason ( and evidence)” – Siddhartha Gautama.
//
The COVID-19 virus originated from China, not Arabia.
/
rbh / April 15, 2020
Cremation is solution or it is an aggravation.
Having Global policy option for majoratarian countries for supporting non majotarian in country on dual way of burial, any person in the world. have to know. have to find out what happened to my life./last will .
/
Daneelo Nugara / April 15, 2020
Dear Amir Ali,
IF you Muslims want to Bury your dead please ask them to come forward when they show the slightest symptoms of COVID19 instead of hiding. You as a writer must get your facts straight before writing your articles read how the Muslims in a village in Bandaragama hid from the authorities also read about the Muslims who evaded the authorities in a village in Kandy, the Muslims who evaded and chased away the PHI in Beruwala in which two village are shut down and also the Muslim businessman from Mt. Lavinia who returned from overseas, evaded the authorities and was discovered only after he had transmitted the diseases…
Oh! bythe way also take it to heart that of the 7 reported COVID19 deaths in Sri Lanka 3 are Muslims – A STAGGERING 42%.
So my advice to you is to write an article and tell your Muslims to be HONEST if they want to be buried ar per your fanatical beliefs…
/
Max / April 15, 2020
Daneela you are so sweet
and also so intelligent mate.
Soon send your address so we could arrange a PhD certificate
/
Prem / April 16, 2020
Lol…
/
Amarasiri / April 15, 2020
Daneelo Nigeria,
Yes. The imbeciles Muslims, who have no clue as to how this corona virus that jumped from the bats through an intermediate to humans, should be educated as to how NOT to get infected, and if infected, not to spread in the community and the country.
The religious leaders, politicians and the civic organizations must concentrate on this, instead of too much focus on the cremation. Per their beliefs, if the infected died and got cremated, it was God’s Will. If the infected got cured, it was God’s will too.
So far, 7 dead, 50 cured, 7 out of 210 infected, died ,and the statistics are similar to other countries.Focus should be on the living and those cured.
The imbecile Muslims, as well as the imbecile Sinhala and Tamils should be taught some virology and immunology, besides their unproven beliefs.
/
SW / April 16, 2020
Dear twat,
If appears that your soul is on fire ignited through your hatred to mankind. You may ind solace in life if you develop your spiritual life, even though it may be too late given your age.
Life must and will go on on earth despite your spitting of hate and devilish utterances.
I expect and welcome your familiar “hate response'” to my comment, and yes, I do understand that it is your way of life.
If nothing else, get a pet kitten, or a puppy, and try to hate it. That way you can be more @ inner peace with yourself and the human kind. That is the best you can do to yourself.
Do grow up, even late in your life, rather that being a hatemonger and a bigot.
/
SW / April 16, 2020
If appears that your soul is on fire ignited through your hatred to mankind. You may ind solace in life if you develop your spiritual life, even though it may be too late given your age.
Life must and will go on on earth despite your spitting of hate and devilish utterances.
I expect and welcome your familiar “hate response'” to my comment, and yes, I do understand that it is your way of life.
If nothing else, get a pet kitten, or a puppy, and try to hate it. That way you can be more @ inner peace with yourself and the human kind. That is the best you can do to yourself.
Do grow up, even late in your life, rather that being a hatemonger and a bigot.
/
HH / April 16, 2020
Have you never had muslim friends? “Fanatical beliefs”? Do you think that is a compassionate way to talk about any persons? Everyone just wants to live a happy life and look after their children. We have more in common than differences.
/
Disanthan / April 16, 2020
Muslims have come forward but GOSL is issuing false statements, Akurana was locked down after 01 dead and what happened after that no more cases found out even after lock down and same with Atulugama, As per information received out of the total 235 COVID 19 patients identified there are only 6.3% muslims, why don’t the GOSL come out with facts and figures. Anyway the muslims are the targets of this present Government.
Lets wait and see what answer the GOD will deliver? Hope for the best.
/
pirabakaran / April 18, 2020
Daneelo
I am a Hindu Tamil my request to the Muslim brothers is that Quran itself permits cremation in extreme circumstances particularly to prevent the spread of a deadly virus. The Ulamas in Saudi Arabia have advised the government to close Mecca and Medina for Ramadan. With the greatest respect does Ameer Ali believe that his knowledge of Islamic theology is more than that of the Ulamas in Saudi Arabia ?
Common sense dictates that if the medical advice is to cremate all the dead and the religious scholars don’t see any problems with that what is Ameer Ali’s qualm about the cremation of the Muslim dead due to corona virus. Let us not play politics here in the name of religion.
/
Daneelo Nugara / April 15, 2020
Dear Amir Ali,
IF you Muslims want to Bury your dead please ask them to come forward when they show the slightest symptoms of COVID19 instead of hiding. You as a writer must get your facts straight before writing your articles read how the Muslims in a village in Bandaragama hid from the authorities also read about the Muslims who evaded the authorities in a village in Kandy, the Muslims who evaded and chased away the PHI in Beruwala in which two village are shut down and also the Muslim businessman from Mt. Lavinia who returned from overseas, evaded the authorities and was discovered only after he had transmitted the diseases…
Oh! bythe way also take it to heart that of the 7 reported COVID19 deaths in Sri Lanka 3 are Muslims – A STAGGERING 42%.
So my advice to you is to write an article and tell your Muslims to be HONEST if they want to be buried ar per your fanatical beliefs…
/
Fathima / April 16, 2020
Daneelo Nugara, the local Einstein,
–
“IF you Muslims want to Bury your dead please ask them to come forward when they show the slightest symptoms of COVID19 instead of hiding”
–
If everyone with slightest symptoms of COVID-19 comes forward, all our hospitals will be full of patients with simple flu and doctors and nurses will not have time to take care of real COVID-19 cases.
/
Historian / April 15, 2020
CT editors,
+
This comment relates not to Mr Ameer’s view about the so-called terrible consternation and feeling of bitterness within the Muslim community with regards to cremating Muslims died of Covid-19. He is entitled to have his on-going opinions on burial (how much ever they are wrong and selfish-looking).
+
But this comment is about the irony of his quoting Napoleon Bonaparte in support of his criticism of the implied dictatorship of the Rajapakse family.
+
To begin with, Mr Ameer’s quote, “The world suffers a lot. Not because of the violence of bad people. But because of the silence of good people.” Needs to be seen as an attempt by Napoleon to defend his extreme violence that was common in his dictatorship and empire.
+
The short, stocky Corsican wanted a dictatorship to implement his version of public salvation. He started with an extravagant coronation (in Notre Dame in December 1804) that cost cost 8.5 million francs, or £5.05m in today’s money. He ruled France for 15 years, the last 10 as “Emperor of the French”, and his armies conquered most of Europe. During his reign, he made 3,500 of his brothers, sisters and stepchildren kings, queens, princes and princesses, in a Napoleonic aristocracy. His final defeat came in 1815, after which he was sent to exile on the tiny island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic, where he died. Napoleon’s lust for power had left more than one million French dead, making people weary of war. As Napoleon travelled through southern France en route to exile, he was jeered by French people.
+
Napoleonic anniversaries are not officially marked or celebrated in France. The French intelligentsia and modern political class do not respect Napoleon.
/
Rizvi Z. / April 15, 2020
GR, MR, RW should know independence was fought together. Muslim’s and Tamils were major roll players.
Now the LTTE war also won together, nationaly and internationally.
Together we win alone (devided) loose!
/
GATAM / April 15, 2020
War against LTTE was won with Israeli help. Independence was freely given to SL when Brits left Indire. United SL is a joke. It never was united and never will be. Peacefully relocate people and partition SL. Muslims can have Sharia law in their country. Will be very rich with Arabic help. Sinhalese can have Sinhala Only; a holiday for every full moon day. Tamils can have Tamil Elam. Everybody’s happy.
/
Nash / April 16, 2020
Israel also helped the LTTE at the same time. What does it make them?
They also called Sri Lankans “monkeys”. What a bunch of hypocrites.
/
pirabakaran / April 18, 2020
GATAM
What about the role played by Sonia’s India, Paki Land, Corona infected China, Mullah’s Iran, Uncle Sam ( US), Aunty Maggie’s Britain , all the private arms dealers, Karuna, Pillayan etc, besides Israel to win the war against LTTE.?
Shame on these Sinhalese cowards who couldn’t even remove a single pubic hair from Pirabakaran for 35 years want to claim victory for the defeat of the LTTE. Pigs may fly in Srilanka.
IF they don’t deal with the Tamil national question reasonably and live in a cloud cuckoo Land thinking that they are the victors of the war and they can have it all, We ( LTTE) will return, when we will return depends on how stupid people like Rajapakses ( war criminals ) behave. When we decide to return we will be much worse than the corona virus, we will be unstoppable.
/
Native Vedda / April 15, 2020
Rizvi Z
–
“GR, MR, RW should know independence was fought together. Muslim’s and Tamils were major roll players.”
–
Please tell us how did these stupid people win independence from the British and how did the people lose their freedom, country, dignity, self respect, habitats, safety and security to home grown criminals, bandits, saffron thugs, …………………. morons, …… ?
–
“Now the LTTE war also won together, nationaly and internationally.”
–
LTTE was won by Prabaharan and Hindia, locally and internationally. In the process many corrupted people became very rich, powerful, …… and cowards are turned into heroes, ranavirus, …. what not.
/
JD / April 15, 2020
RIZVI: Do not talk BS. British India Limited left they could not no longer exploit Greater India which extended from Afghanisthan up to Burma. that is Afghanisthan, Pakisthan, India, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
for political reasons it needed to show unity. that is why muslims and Tamils ganged. That was great work.
Now, it is Muslims are perpetrators and victims at the same time.
They blew up 300 Catholics, Zaharan and his gang at least SIX people I suppose. How come your almighty or United nations are not complaining about those dis figured their bodies.
Besides, can any one tell where in the quran this is said.
When ameer ali talk, the Ship has moved out from the port.
/
HH / April 16, 2020
A few people were responsible for the bombing. NOT ALL THE MUSLIMS.
/
Raj / April 15, 2020
To Rizvi,
Also, please remember our Muslim minority in SL was used by the British to subjugate the majority Sinhalese after 1815. At some point, the Muslims were given so much preference in Kandy area that it led to an island-wide riot between the Sinhalese and Muslims in 1915. At subsequent trials, the British judges gave judgments in favor of Muslim rioters.
When low country Muslims were tortured and killed by the Portuguese, and the Dutch, it was the Kandyan kings who gave refuge to the Muslims and allowed them to settle down among the Sinhalese. Nevertheless, that was how the Muslims returned the favor! Unfortunately the Muslims have already created a negative impression throughout the history and it needs to be corrected! Instead of correcting it Muslim leaders and writers are trying to challenge the majority by having their own laws (marriage laws, Sharia law, etc).
‘One country one law’ is important to build a country; it is a universally practical rule if you think of developing a country and its nation. You need to think as a Sri Lankan first; your religion is always secondary and personal. Most Muslims think the other way around, and are fighting a loosing battle!
/
niro / April 15, 2020
Cemeteries in Sri Lanka date from around 1860’s when the British and other Europeans started burying the dead. Before that the Portuguese may have had burial grounds around catholic churches but these were destroyed by the Dutch.
It can be assumed that no muslim was buried until the 20th century inspite of claiming to have lived for hundreds years in hela diwa.. Before 1947 muslims had no rights or economic clout and. It was only after the free market reforms of 77 that muslims started having any political clout and hence could afford to open mosques and burial grounds.
Lanka has a population problem and hence land scarcity. It cannot afford to bury every Tom. Dick and harry and needs to revive the pre coloniel method of desposing the body: burn it and throw the ashes in a stream, river or the ocean. So it floats away into another existence.
How come the Catholics have not complained? Don’t they have the same one life heven or hell concept like the muslims?
/
chiv / April 15, 2020
Whats new ????????
/
SJ / April 15, 2020
“…which could have tilted the odds in favour of SP. It was this fear that made Buddhist supremacists to work overtime, and canvass among the Sinhala voters to convince them of a hidden threat from Muslims.”
The writer hasn’t the foggiest idea of what Buddhist supremacists seek to do.
The cremation issue has to be taken up by all fair-minded Sinhalese AND Tamils.
/
Real Revolutionist / April 15, 2020
What is the reason for Muslims not to cremate dead bodies?
Dead bodies don’t have life.
We want our ( not foreign, strictly) Muslims to be advanced even to challenge their almighty.
Unless they’re hardly compatible to live here.
Majority are OK to bury provided they don’t carry deadly virus. (need not to be until it’s proved)
/
Hamlet / April 15, 2020
Real Revolutionist:-
The real reason is that Burial was the accepted form of disposal of dead bodies at the time of the Prophet!
They did not even know that there was an Alternate Possibility!
Why have Muslims to follow the dictates of so many Years ago, and not accept the current Rational forms of Disposal of the Bodies of their Loved Ones!
Do Muslims not realise that they are at Risk of passing on the Virus to the Immediate Families of the Dead, and thereby killing more Muslims in the Process?
/
C. B. Goonatilake / April 15, 2020
Would knowledgeable persons discuss the concerns expressed about ground water contamination through burial of C-19 dead? That is the crux of the matter. If the broader scientific opinion is that there is no risk to the public, the next issue is the comparative risks of exposure of a diseased body in the process of burying as against instant cremation. This, I believe, is what the commentary should be about. Politics of this should be discussed only after the science have given a definitive answer.
/
babalath appu / April 15, 2020
Whoever you are.. should that be the case only srilnakens ?
–
What about to Italy, US, Germany, France, Brazil and the like countries ? Are they not on PLANET earth ?
–
Sure, no doubt about that some parts of the country and its ground water could be in touch with the pits, but this should NOT be an excuse.
–
Srilanka is not the place where Science and Medicine is born. It is Europe. If Europeans would not bother with that why you guys have to ?
–
I think it is not the issue with CREMATION or BURIAL – it is an issue with srilanken local propaganda. Those who attack the minorities these days should be jailed to the very same manner the westerners would do with anyone that would abuse their mouth against blacks or brownies. In Germany, if anyone would call a black ” niger”, it can be ended up being caught by POLICE….. we need even more rigorous laws to tame bps that rally around Rajapakshes.
–
Is this possible in today s context ? Never.
–
Those backlickers such as Sabry should be hung by their balls… these are the traitors to MUSLIM community itself.
–
The bugger said once, if MUSLIMS would not vote for MR et al, they would have been beaten to death or so….. how dare the kind of men behave so… but they continue to be back licking .. on and on.
:
Muslims and Tamils.. please think about your rights and fights further not on BURIALS but basic rights. There should not be barriers to fight for your own rights – you are srilankens, like we are.
/
Native Vedda / April 15, 2020
C. B. Goonatilake
–
“Politics of this should be discussed only after the science have given a definitive answer.”
–
Hope you are right.
However, in this island politics precede everything, history, religion, humanity, land, language, safety, security, health, dignity, ……………. because wisdom and sense of responsibility bid adieu on 4th February 1948.
/
Samuel / April 16, 2020
Goonatilake,
Well said. At last a rational expression of the problem.
Must also include a discussion on how waste and waste water are being disposed from the Corona wards. Does this not constitute another way of spreading the disease if water transmission theory is correct?
/
Amila W / April 16, 2020
“Would knowledgeable persons discuss the concerns expressed about ground water contamination through burial of C-19 dead?”
–
Burying of human & animal bodies have been happening throughout, instant or delayed. And Sri Lankans have been using well water for everything including drinking. Have we been drinking water contaminated by these dead bodies?
/
Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / April 15, 2020
I am appalled to hear that Covid infected Muslims are hiding their symptoms to evade quarantine. If this is the case, then what I mentioned here a few days back is absolutely correct. That Muslims are bringing the Covid to SL in purpose.
These are all interrelated events. Muslims having the highest percentage of Covid infections. Muslims evading quarantine, Muslims demanding burial and Muslims diverting the attention away from the first anniversary of mass murder.
There is also an issue I heard that the National Hospital is running out of ventilators. If this is truly the case, then make sure Muslims get none. They went to Mecca against the advice of the government, they demand burial against medical advice, they go for Friday Prayers breaking curfew, they get no ventilators when they fall sick. Period.
/
Ashan / April 16, 2020
This is not a Muslim issue, only in your racist head. Facts are most who brought it into the country are mostly Sinhalese:
“Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defense requests all Sri Lankans who arrived from European countries including UK, Iran, Italy and South Korea from March 1 to 15 to register themselves at the nearest Police station or inform the Police, immediately.
Defense Secretary Major General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne, seeking support from them, said the request is made to protect the country’s population from the coronavirus outbreak.
“There are over 170 passengers, who have returned to Sri Lanka from Korea and Italy, are living with their families and have not been subjected to quarantine process. As a precautionary measure, we need to get them into the screening process to detect positive cases to prevent coronavirus spreading further,” he said.
Those who have not been subjected to 14-days quarantine process have to call 119 and inform the Police about their details.”
Get educated.
/
Ralph / April 16, 2020
Shamal,
Don’t twist the facts.
87% of the Corona patients are Sinhalese!
The Sinhalese spread the disease when they returned from Italy and Korea and hid from the authorities for several weeks. The Government is still searching for them in the Gampaha District. Hence the continuous curfew.
/
Ajith / April 16, 2020
Rid.Lt.Ren,
Don’t you know when Gotabaya migrated Srilanka he also brought Covid to SL from China? You may think Gota came from USA, not China but you may have forgot it is China came first to meet Gota and first Corona patient was from China not from USA.
Easter bombing was planned by Gota and Hisbullah. Do you think Hisbullah is not a Muslim and only Muslims in the country are Rishard and a doctor who did a sterilasation operation at the request of Gota.
/
Native Vedda / April 17, 2020
Retarded Shameless Pererass
–
“I am appalled”
–
I am appalled.
Its appalling.
All sane minded people are appalled at your appalling behaviour in this forum.
You should also be appalled by your own shameless behaviour.
Your family (if you have one) should be appalled.
Your mother should be appalled.
Your Grandma and grandpa should be appalled.
Your neighbours should be appalled.
/
Sunil Dahanayake / April 15, 2020
This guy writing this article from Australia. He is trying to show that he is non-racist academic.
But everything, he writes is racist. He identifies Buddhist Monk as “monkish mavericks”.
You need to understand, if you are concerned about Muslim rights, Buddhist are also concerned about your language that you use in this article. First thing, you teach your community to go to hospital or other health institutions to get this covid-19 infections treated as soon as possible, if they are infected. Then the burial and other issues does not arise.
/
Native Vedda / April 17, 2020
Sunil Dahanayake
–
“monkish mavericks”
–
Could you tell us the meaning of “monkish mavericks”?
And explain why you find it racist?
/
Muslim / April 15, 2020
GR MR and their cabal are awaiting to win elections so that their perks and power will be at hand .
Sri Lanka is going down and down economically and will become a country like Sudan Somalia Myanmar
Most of the people from Srilanka are working in Muslim countries but Muslims are treated like garbage in this country and they are denied of their legitimate rights regarding burial . The racists burn down the Muslim shops businesses and lots of discrimination has taken place .The people behind this are getting their dues .
/
Ashan / April 16, 2020
No country can discriminate the minority and prosper. China has treated the Uighurs like dirt, brainwashed them, made them reject their religion, put them in prison camps, and they have suffered. They are now condemned for allowing their wet markets to result in a terrible disease, that has killed hundreds of thousands of people all over the world. Sri Lanka is already following the path of Myanmar.
/
Mallaiyuran / April 15, 2020
Dr. Amir is twisting the facts. In the past, Dr. Amir had written many essays, pointing the Burqa and date trees are not suitable for Lankawe environment; studies & lessons must focus on scientific thinking. Now, it is disappointing to watch these Muslim writers. The government is suing the Emergency & Curfew to control the minorities’ towns. Their towns are unnecessarily cordoned like in a war time. People are hungry. Their aids are stolen by crocodile’s politicians using the curfew. Only few are honestly helping them. Government is targeting them too. In that situation the chaff writers are behaving like the woman who can’t find the lost motor rod, but readily finds the lost needle.
It is beyond doubt both governments (Chitanta & Yahapalanaya) created, paid and nurtured the Wahhabi Soldiers in Lankawe. In that SLMC & ALMC contributed all needed help, including channeling funds and recruiting soldiers. They both were rewarded by governments to create women slaves& Arabization for Kattankudy, using MMDA, a dormant act from 1951 to until then. Earlier Muslims has said they were ready to study Sinhalese and become Sinhalese so the Sinhala Only was not a problem for them. But in the end the Sinhala politicians were bought by Arabian money & Muslims studied Arabic and spread Arabic culture in lieu of Sinhala only. Kattankudy was turned into little Arabia, decorating with Arabian architecture, name boards & date trees. At the time of 4/21 blowout, about 2,000 foreign teachers were teaching Arabic materials in Lankawe. 800 Egyptians without visa were teaching, private funded by ME agencies. Ranil’s government was completely infiltrated with Arabian bribes, with the assistance of these Muslim ministers. After war, Sinhala Media Channels started to focus on the wartime wealth gains of Muslims, leaving aside the Muslims Home Guards, Razeek Kuzhu and Muslims spies’ contribution to infiltrate into LTTE. These channels pointed to the newly made wealth of the Muslim community as main contributing factor of corrupted Sinhala Politicians to accommodate anything Muslims were asking.
/
Mallaiyuran / April 15, 2020
In fact the funeral issue is only matter in the recent history of Lankawe is refused to Muslims Politicians by any Sinhala Buddhist government. (The 1990s Vaalaiththodam Sr’s resolution to upgrade Kalmunai North for Tamils is not yet done, but the new, Hitler government has already agreed to upgrade Sainthamaruthu.) So, Ratnam went on hunger strike insisting to investigate Hezbollah and Rishard’s role in 4/21 and Rishard to be fired from cabinet so he cannot influence the investigation. Ranil, to cover up the case, requested the Muslim Ministers Union to resign. This publicities & investigations brought out to public that Hezbollah is in possession of 300 cores illegal money to launch a Sharia University. While this can turn out 1,000 Sharia graduate in a year, many Muslim foreign national youths will be active in Lankawe. Rishard’s brother was arrested yester in relation to 4/21. A Muslim Rapporteur from UN’s religious matters has written to government to allow Muslim to bury. He did not talk on medical ground about the pandemic safety, but he was talking on UN’s religious rights. WHO, which is responsible for coordinate this pandemic recovery efforts, is reluctantly agrees to bury, if denning that would amount majoritarian rule or dictatorship. Here Buddhists too burry; they too are losing that chance; So Majoritarian rule doesn’t apply. But there is possible dictatorship, for insisting doing things only in one way.
/
Fahim (woeful) Knight / April 16, 2020
Logic over Myth
=================
When will we choose Logicover Myth ?
==========================================
Fact Check: Can Dead Bodies Of COVID-19 Patients Transmit …
thelogicalindian.com › Fact Check
Claim: Dead body of a COVID-19 patient transmits the novel coronavirus
Claimed by: General Consensus
Fact check by The Logical Indian: Misleading
Fact Check Fact Check: Can Dead Bodies Of COVID-19 Patients Transmit Novel Coronavirus? By : Aditi Chattopadhyay India | Published : 31 March 2020 / Updated : 15 Days ago Fact Check:
https://thelogicalindian.com/fact-check/dead-body-coronavirus-covid-19-20387
/
Upali / April 16, 2020
I would like to know from good Doctors whether excreta of Covid patients too are burned. The way I know in Colombo it end up in the sea at Wellawatta and other areas cess pits.
/
upali Tissera / April 16, 2020
Nobody knows the behaviour this virus, how long it can live ,when a dead body is buried the virus multiply within the corpse and waiting to come alive , also if the virus leaks into the water system
anyone supporting burying those who died of corona virus worth reading the WHO NANCY PROJECT OFFICE,
” THE IMPACT OF CEMETERIES ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH ” specially this so called Dr . who doesn’t know anything about these facts. I think Drs and the President of Sri Lanka are doing the correct thing at the moment and don’t let UNO to pressure your highness President.
Well wisher to the future generation, I am 82 don’t care a toss what they do but think of the future generation, Thanks
/
Abhaya Premawardena / April 16, 2020
Ameer nana
if covid 19 is not an extreme situation what is ?
You cant have a different law in the country .
/
Ashan / April 16, 2020
Do explain what” different law” the Muslim have asked for, when it comes to this crisis?
/
rbh / April 16, 2020
Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera
There is also an issue I heard that the National Hospital is running out of ventilators. If this is truly the case, then make sure Muslims get none.
See what you are thinking and other people practically involde in creating,
Those who create are rare; those who cannot are numerous.
There is also an issue I heard that the National Hospital is running out of ventilators. If this is truly the case, then make sure Muslims get none.
Ventilator machine for multiple patients Dr Saud Anwar United States
Hero parade for a multipronged effort to fight coronavirus.
Dr. Saud Anwar, Pakistani American doctor, invented a setting – connection modus in the US, wherein one medical breathing air ventilator will help ventilate 7 patients at a time. An ideal means to manage scarce resource.
/
Jay Chambers / April 16, 2020
The reason why Moslems in Lanka were ready to forego religious rites for the barbaric ISIS cannibals who blew themselves up is because in the words of the Coran these monsters are already in heaven, and not just heave but Fidraus, the highest level in heaven and bodily remains no longer matter. The Quran contains well over 100 verses that urge genocide of nonbelievers (In Lanka that would be everyone except Moslems, in Terroristans like Pakistan this also means Shia Moslems who are called non believers as well). Coran explains graphically how to chop off heads and fingers and kill infidels wherever they may be hiding using whatever means possible. Muslims who do not join the fight are called ‘hypocrites’ and warned that Allah will send them to Hell if they do not join the slaughter.
So the writer chooses to write balderdash Taqqia deceptive mumbo jumbo here, referring to all sorts of cuckold sources, because they want the virus to spread. By using the corpses to infect the water and soil and thereby eternally infecting the non-believer, they feel the dead monster will go to Fidraus heaven. I urge the Sinhalese and Tamil to educate themselves and stand firm with the leaders of the country, including President and others, to fight back against these monsters. A battle is coming and the virus has shown even the skeptics that Moslems are salivating at the possibility of harming the non-believer to make Lanka the next Terroristan in the world
/
Seneviratne / April 16, 2020
Please read
https://nypost.com/2020/04/14/scientists-suggest-coronavirus-could-spread-from-corpses/
/
Ashan / April 16, 2020
Please stop linking right wing website here to poison minds, owned by Trump’s good friend Rupert Murdoch, which has been fact checked to be biased:
“Overall we rate the New York Post on the far end of Right-Center Biased due to story selection that typically favors the Right and Mixed (borderline questionable) for factual reporting based on several failed fact checks.”
“According to an LA Times article, the New York Post was reported to be the preferred newspaper of U.S. President Donald Trump, who maintains frequent contact with its owner, Rupert Murdoch. The Post, According to a survey conducted by Pace University in 2004, was rated the least-credible major news outlet in New York. Further, The Post has been criticized since the beginning of Murdoch’s ownership for “sensationalism, blatant advocacy, and conservative bias.”
Time to change your source of information.
/
The Messenger / April 16, 2020
How are they disposing the drainage water used by IDH, other Hospitals and Quarantine centers where the Covid19 patients and potential patients are held? Isn’t it disposed underground? Then what is wrong in burying their dead bodies as per WHO guidelines? Why are they playing the communal game?
Cremating/burning the mortal remains/bodies is considered a disrespect to the dead in the mid-Eastern philosophy.
/
Jay Chambers / April 17, 2020
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.
For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2
/
Thondamany / April 16, 2020
Once a person is dead you are dead. It does not matter to the Almighty whether the dead is buried or cremated or whether last rights were observed.
Islam rules are man made.
This argument that is raging moreover kinddled by so called educated Muslims show how primitive
they are in their thinking. They have no idea what MERITS are & that is what matter at the end of the day.
What matters to Almighty are the Merits a Muslims has accumilated when during their lifetime on earth.
You Muslims, accumilate merits to please the Almighty while you can and alive.
Political animals & blind followers of religion this issue is seen either a political or religious issue.
What does it matter whether you are buried or cremated after death.
/
kali / April 16, 2020
Sinkala THONDA
Now then
1) Once a person is dead you are dead.
*** Have you heard of General Franco. Man he came back So did Jesus
2) It does not matter to the Almighty whether the dead is buried or cremated or whether last rights were observed.
Islam rules are man made.
*** What about yours which is Gotha ,ade. Is he a man . You may be right debatable. 50/50
3) This argument that is raging moreover kinddled by so called educated Muslims show how primitive they are in their thinking. They have no idea what MERITS are & that is what matter at the end of the day.
*** How far advanced are you. Still struggleing to learn Humanity.
4)What matters to Almighty are the Merits a Muslims has accumilated when during their lifetime on earth.You Muslims, accumilate merits to please the Almighty while you can and alive.
*** Proper english please. What matters to God is belief in his teachings which is an alien language Sinkalams like you.
5) Political animals & blind followers of religion this issue is seen either a political or religious issue.What does it matter whether you are buried or cremated after death.
*** You hit the nail on the Head. Perfect definition of BBS.
/
Justin Case / April 16, 2020
I haven’t read every comment on this thread, but it appears that there is no evidence either in the article or comments to suggest that the “cremation over burial” diktat is founded on any clear rationale or is backed by science.
Perhaps someone should ask the authorities this question, and maybe show these links to those despicable goons adorned in yellow robes who are whipping up hatred in our motherland:
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/331538/WHO-COVID-19-lPC_DBMgmt-2020.1-eng.pdf
https://www.who.int/diseasecontrol_emergencies/guidelines/risks/en/
/
SW / April 17, 2020
Dear twat,
If appears that your soul is on fire ignited through your hatred to mankind. You may ind solace in life if you develop your spiritual life, even though it may be too late given your age.
Amarasiri,
Life must and will go on on earth despite your spitting of hate and devilish utterances.
I expect and welcome your familiar “hate response’” to my comment, and yes, I do understand that it is your way of life.
If nothing else, get a pet kitten, or a puppy, and try to hate it. That way you can be more @ inner peace with yourself and the human kind. That is the best you can do to yourself.
Do grow up, even late in your life, rather that being a hatemonger and a bigot.
/