Sri Lanka, Jan. 26 -- The United Nations experts have urged the Sri Lankan Government to end its policy of forced cremation of the COVID-19 deceased, noting that it ran contrary to the beliefs of Muslims and other minorities in the country.

In a joint appeal, Special Rapporteurs Ahmed Shaheed, Fernand de Varennes, Clement Nyaletsossi Voule and Tlaleng Mofokeng pointed out that this action could foment existing prejudices, intolerance and violence.

"The imposition of cremation as the only option for handling the bodies confirmed or suspected of COVID-19 amounts to a human rights violation. There has been no established medical or scientific evidence in Sri Lanka or other countries that burial of dead bodies leads to increased risk of spr...