Muslim Council of Sri Lanka issues statement on COVID-19

The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) in a statement has urged citizens to keep the health and safety of others a priority at this time. The full statement is given below.

The Ministry of Health has just issued a directive against mass gatherings of any kind for the next two weeks in order to curb the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

It is important that we strictly abide by these directives as symptoms of the disease are not immediately obvious and can cause high risk particularly when spread to the elderly and immune compromised.

The World Health Organization has classified COVID-19 as a pandemic. The rate at which it has spread and caused sickness and death around the world is alarming. It is our moral and religious duty to put the health of the collective above personal interests.

• Please avoid attending or organizing large gatherings, public or private, for the next two weeks.
• If you have cold symptoms like cough and sneezing, stay home for the next two weeks. Do not infect others.
• Those arriving from foreign countries should self-quarantine for two weeks and not leave their residences.
• Avoid traveling abroad as much as possible.
• Call the hotline if you feel someone has been infected so treatment can be done safely:
• Health Promotion Bureau: 0710107107
• Disaster Unit: 0113071073
• Remember to wash hands with soap regularly.

These directives are not a cause for panic but a guide for us to behave responsibly at a crucial time. We also advise all Imams of mosques, masjid trustees, community organizations and citizens to abide strictly by present and future Health Ministry orders when planning further activities.

Let us be patient and act responsibly during this time. Praying for the situation to improve in Sri Lanka and around the world inshAllah.