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Forced Cremations of Muslims in Sri Lanka
Hilmy A.
started this petition to
The World Academy of Sciences and UNESCO
Dr. Meththika Suharshani Vithanage, a Sri Lankan Hydrogeologist
has been nominated for the TWAS-Fayzah M. AL-Kharafi Award. We, the
undersigned, wish to state that she has violated professional practice as a
result of her unscientific and unprofessional conduct in acting beyond her
scope in education and expertise.
The Government of Sri Lanka made it mandatory to cremate the
bodies of dead due to or suspected of Covid 19 through a gazette notification
on April11th, 2020, denying a religious right of Muslims and Christians in the
country, which contravenes WHO guidelines and SOP of over 198 countries across
the world.
The World Health Organization as per their SOP dated
24.03.2020 on 'Infection Prevention and Control for the Safe Management of a
Dead Body in the Context of COVID 19', recommends burial or cremation of bodies
of Corona infected dead. Thousands who have died of the Corona virus are buried,
including mass graves in countries like the USA, UK, Italy, Spain, Australia,
Singapore and Hong Kong. The World Health Organization has also confirmed that
the COVID 19 virus cannot spread in swimming pools. The UNDP too has written to
the Hon. Prime Minister requesting the Government to respect the religious rights
of minority communities and urging allowing burial.
No Government Virologist, Microbiologist or Epidemiologist
has stated that the COVID 19 virus
can contaminate ground water. On the contrary, Dr. Paba Palihawadana, the Deputy Director General of Public Health Services overseeing all communicable decease control programmes in Sri Lanka and former Chief Epidemiologist/Director of Central Epidemiology Unit, is on record claiming that the COVID 19 virus cannot contaminate or be spread through water. Only Judicial Medical Officers and a Hydrogeologist (Dr. Meththika Vithanage), have said that the virus from dead bodies could contaminate ground water. Dr. Vithanage claimed that the COVID 19 virus could contaminate ground water if Corona infected dead are buried, in an interventionist petition in 9 fundamental rights petition filed against forcible cremation in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka by civil rights activists and civil society organizations. Dr Vithanage is not a Virologist, Microbiologist, Epidemiologist or expert in any field related to the science of Virology for her to advice on the COVID 19 virus, as her education is on Hydrogeology, Environmental Science and Natural Resources. Hence she has violated professional conduct. We wish to state that her nomination for this prestigious award should be re-evaluated, since it can undermine the credibility and good name of your esteemed institution.
Hilmy Ahamed -
Vice President
The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka
can contaminate ground water. On the contrary, Dr. Paba Palihawadana, the Deputy Director General of Public Health Services overseeing all communicable decease control programmes in Sri Lanka and former Chief Epidemiologist/Director of Central Epidemiology Unit, is on record claiming that the COVID 19 virus cannot contaminate or be spread through water. Only Judicial Medical Officers and a Hydrogeologist (Dr. Meththika Vithanage), have said that the virus from dead bodies could contaminate ground water. Dr. Vithanage claimed that the COVID 19 virus could contaminate ground water if Corona infected dead are buried, in an interventionist petition in 9 fundamental rights petition filed against forcible cremation in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka by civil rights activists and civil society organizations. Dr Vithanage is not a Virologist, Microbiologist, Epidemiologist or expert in any field related to the science of Virology for her to advice on the COVID 19 virus, as her education is on Hydrogeology, Environmental Science and Natural Resources. Hence she has violated professional conduct. We wish to state that her nomination for this prestigious award should be re-evaluated, since it can undermine the credibility and good name of your esteemed institution.
Hilmy Ahamed -
Vice President
The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka
Posted
(Updated )
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