The remains of COVID-19 patients that have not been claimed can be cremated under quarantine regulations, Attorney General (AG) Dappula de Livera yesterday stated.

According to the AG’s Coordinating Officer State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena has been informed of this. The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has thus been advised to cremate the unclaimed bodies of persons who died of COVID-19.

While health officials state that a request has been made for the CMC to cover the expenses for the final rites as Government funds are yet to be approved, the unclaimed remains of 19 persons who died of COVID-19 are currently in mortuaries under the Colombo Judicial Medical Officer.

Health officials argue that the situation arose due to a lack of proper action by the authorities.

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