Twelve Fundamental Rights petitions filed seeking an order staying the operation of gazette notification issued to cremate persons who die of COVID-19 were fixed for support by the Supreme Court yesterday.
The Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justices Buwaneka Aluwihare, Sisira de Abrew and Gamini Amarasekara fixed the petitions to be taken up for support on November 30.
The court was informed that a senior counsel who had earlier appeared on behalf of an intervenient petitioner is currently in self quarantine. Accordingly, a junior counsel appearing for the intervenient petitioner yesterday sought a further date for the petitions to be taken up for support.
Several petitioners including leader of Sri Lanka’s All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Rishad Bathiudeen and several others have filed these petitions alleging that rules relating to the disposing of bodies of suspected Muslim victims of COVID-19 are contrary to the method practiced by followers of Islamic Faith. The petitioners have cited the Health Minister, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Director General of Health Services and the Health and Indigenous Medical Services Ministry Secretary and the Attorney General as respondents.
President’s Counsel Faiz Musthapa with Ikram Mohammed PC, Senior Counsel Viran Corea and Thilini Vidanagamage appeared for the petitioners.
