No change in cremation policy: Gammanpila

Wednesday, 17 February 2021 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Cabinet Co-Spokesman says PM expressed personal view in p’ment
Insists only DGHS has power to make call based on technical committee recommendations

Ruling out any immediate change to the Government’s mandatory cremation policy, Cabinet Co-Spokesman Udaya Gammanpila yesterday said Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had only stated his personal view in Parliament last week and any policy decision could only be made by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS).

Gammanpila, speaking at the weekly Cabinet briefing, insisted that Prime Minister Rajapaksa’s statement that the COVID-19 dead should be allowed burial as well was a “personal view” and did not reflect any change of Government policy.Gammanpila, responding to questions, went on to say given the pandemic situation, only the DGHS Dr. Asela Gunawardena could decide based on the technical committee’s recommendations and gazette of the same.

“What the Prime Minister said in response to a question in parliament was his personal opinion. That does not automatically become Government policy. In this instance, it is only the DGHS that can make these decisions, not the President, Prime Minister or Cabinet,” he said.