Male’, Maldives – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed yesterday that the Maldivian government is currently in talks with Sri-Lankan authorities to look into the possibility of facilitating Islamic funeral rites in the Maldives for Sri Lankan Muslims succumbing to COVID-19
According to the ministry, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa addressed a letter to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, requesting assistance in performing the Islamic burial rites as Lanka is currently facing difficulties in arranging proper burial proceedings for Muslims dying to the Covid-19.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, if possible, Maldives will attempt to make these arrangements as special assistance, with the aim of spreading religious unity and honoring the long-standing friendship between the two neighbouring countries.
The Muslim community in Sri Lanka has has been raising concerns continuously over the cremation of Muslim Covid-19 victims, which they claim is against their religious beliefs.
While public reaction to this news has been generally in favour of assisting fellow muslims, there have been some who have voiced there concerns over the matter, including former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who said that “bringing the bodies of foreign Covid-19 victims to be buried in Maldives is something that I cannot support.” .
SriLanka is currently facing a surge in Covid cases, with a total of 29,000 people testing positive, 140 have died.
