Avoid racism in fight against COVID-19, urges UNP

Saturday, 4 April 2020 18:39 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The UNP today said it is imperative that the country unite and work together to defeat the common enemy COVID-19, and said it is unfortunate that even in these troubled times, some groups are promoting racist and extremist ideas to the public.

“In the past few days, some individuals and groups, through the spread of narrow religious ideas, have been trying to make people more sensitive to religious matters for the sake of political oppression or political gain. The masses should understand how certain groups have been working towards their own, agendas and are trying to do the same now that narrow racists and religious ideas have been planted in the public domain, which will help achieve the political goals,” the UNP said in a statement.

The statement also noted that WHO has introduced a set of criteria for the burial or cremation of victims of COVID-19. “The relevant health authorities in Sri Lanka have made the decision regarding the arrangements for burial of the victims. Therefore, we request the public understand the situation and respect the decisions taken by the authorities,” the UNP statement said.

It added that the position of the UNP is that no group should be treated differently from others in the age of this pandemic. “The challenges we face due to COVID-19 can be overcome if we work together, putting aside our ethnic and religious differences,” the statement said.