According to the guideline on the safe management of Wuhan virus victims, the World Health Organisation(WHO) says: "people who have died from COVID-19 can be buried or cremated according to local standards and family preferences. The belongings of the deceased person do not need to be burned or otherwise disposed of,"

In short, it is safe to bury Wuhan virus victims since science does not say burial poses a healthcare risk. However, majoritarian politics does. The pandemic is the perfect opportunity for the government in Colombo to play politics and pander to Islamophobia.

Sri Lanka has been divided along ethnic and religious lines. The Sinhalese Buddhists form the majority. The Tamil Hindus and the Muslims are Lanka's minorities.&nbsp;

Muslims make up 10 per cent of the population. Their lives have been thrown into a turmoil since the 2019 easter bombings. The attack was carried out by Muslim groups. It killed 269 people and marginalised Lankan Muslims as Buddhist nationalist groups led the ethnic tension. Groups like Bodu Bala Sena floated the idea that Sinhala Buddhists were under threat from overpopulating Muslims.

It was with this backdrop that Sri Lanka entered its presidential election. Gotabaya Rajapaksa played heavily on his Sinhalese Buddhist credentials. He was elected to office in November 2019 with 52.25 per cent of the vote.

Rajapaksa's election was seen as a shift towards majoritarian politics and since coming to power he has only proved his critics right. In September, Sri Lanka banned cow slaughter but eating beef is still allowed.

When the pandemic struck, a section of Sri Lanka blamed Muslims for the spread of the Wuhan virus as the country's Buddhist monks sold factless stories. They said burying Wuhan virus victims would contaminate groundwater and apparently spread the Wuhan virus.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa played to the Sinhala emotions and in April&nbsp;Sri Lanka made cremation mandatory for all Wuhan virus victims. The move was 100 per cent political. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had told a news channel in November.

"It is no secret that the majority who voted for me then were Sinhalese. They rallied because they had legitimate fears that the Sinhala race our religion, national resources and the heritage would be threatened with destruction in the face of various local and foreign forces and ideologies that support separatism, extremism and terrorism. The main appeal made by the people to me was "to protect the country".

This is the president protecting his position. He is, in fact, is protecting his votes and in doing so, he has the backing of the Parliament and a green signal from the court. Rajapaksa is denying the minorities of Sri Lanka&nbsp;even the basic dignity in death.

According to the guideline on the safe management of Wuhan virus victims, the World Health Organisation(WHO) says: "people who have died from COVID-19 can be buried or cremated according to local standards and family preferences.

According to the guideline on the safe management of Wuhan virus victims, the World Health Organisation(WHO) says: "people who have died from COVID-19 can be buried or cremated according to local standards and family preferences. The belongings of the deceased person do not need to be burned or otherwise disposed of," In short, it is safe to bury Wuhan virus victims since science does not say burial poses a healthcare risk. However, majoritarian politics does. The pandemic is the perfect opportunity for the government in Colombo to play politics and pander to Islamophobia. Sri Lanka has been divided along ethnic and religious lines. The Sinhalese Buddhists form the majority. The Tamil Hindus and the Muslims are Lanka's minorities. Muslims make up 10 per cent of the population. Their lives have been thrown into a turmoil since the 2019 easter bombings. The attack was carried out by Muslim groups. It killed 269 people and marginalised Lankan Muslims as Buddhist nationalist groups led the ethnic tension. Groups like Bodu Bala Sena floated the idea that Sinhala Buddhists were under threat from overpopulating Muslims. It was with this backdrop that Sri Lanka entered its presidential election. Gotabaya Rajapaksa played heavily on his Sinhalese Buddhist credentials. He was elected to office in November 2019 with 52.25 per cent of the vote. Rajapaksa's election was seen as a shift towards majoritarian politics and since coming to power he has only proved his critics right. In September, Sri Lanka banned cow slaughter but eating beef is still allowed. When the pandemic struck, a section of Sri Lanka blamed Muslims for the spread of the Wuhan virus as the country's Buddhist monks sold factless stories. They said burying Wuhan virus victims would contaminate groundwater and apparently spread the Wuhan virus. Gotabaya Rajapaksa played to the Sinhala emotions and in April Sri Lanka made cremation mandatory for all Wuhan virus victims. The move was 100 per cent political. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had told a news channel in November. "It is no secret that the majority who voted for me then were Sinhalese. They rallied because they had legitimate fears that the Sinhala race our religion, national resources and the heritage would be threatened with destruction in the face of various local and foreign forces and ideologies that support separatism, extremism and terrorism. The main appeal made by the people to me was "to protect the country". This is the president protecting his position. He is, in fact, is protecting his votes and in doing so, he has the backing of the Parliament and a green signal from the court. Rajapaksa is denying the minorities of Sri Lanka even the basic dignity in death.

Coronavirus politics: Rajapaksa denies minorities in Sri Lanka basic dignity in death

The virus from Wuhan has brought lonely deaths for more than a million people without the solace of a final goodbye for loved ones.

11 miles from Manhattan lies the largest mass grave in the United States in Hart island. It is the final resting place for unclaimed dead bodies in New York. The island made international headlines in April when the city announced that unclaimed victims of the Wuhan virus will be buried by the end of October more than 2,000 New Yorkers were buried on Hart island more than double the numbers from last year.

It's dreary business, there is no funeral service with workers in Hazmat outfits just bury the dead which is a cruel gift of the pandemic. The Wuhan virus has made grieving the loss of a loved one harder with mass gatherings restricted in several parts of the globe as many end up grieving alone.

In June, families in Brazil had only 10 minutes to say goodbye to their loved ones. Brazil has the world's second-largest death toll in this pandemic as of July strict guidelines were in place for funerals with social gatherings banned.

open casket viewings were not allowed. In May, a cemetery in Sao Paulo was burying 60 bodies in a day with families being given barely a few minutes to bid their loved ones goodbye.

The Wuhan virus has infected burials and funerals too. In Egypt, families were stopped from carrying out the Islamic custom of bathing the body before the burial.

In Mexico wakes were denied to the deceased and in India, large gatherings have been banned. Many don't even get the solace of a final farewell. In Israel, some hospitals have built a glass booth for families to get a last glimpse of the deceased despite restrictions people have found new ways to show solidarity.

Earlier this year in Ireland, Catholic parishioners lined up their cars on a road towards a cemetery when an elderly resident died in Kerry. The vehicles stood seven feet apart and the parishioners paid their last respects from their cars.

It has been almost a year since the pandemic began and hospitals still remain inundated with patients as the death toll continues to rise with the virus showing no signs of slowing down.

The virus from Wuhan has brought lonely deaths for more than a million people without the solace of a final goodbye for loved ones. 11 miles from Manhattan lies the largest mass grave in the United States in Hart island.

The virus from Wuhan has brought lonely deaths for more than a million people without the solace of a final goodbye for loved ones. 11 miles from Manhattan lies the largest mass grave in the United States in Hart island. It is the final resting place for unclaimed dead bodies in New York. The island made international headlines in April when the city announced that unclaimed victims of the Wuhan virus will be buried by the end of October more than 2,000 New Yorkers were buried on Hart island more than double the numbers from last year. It's dreary business, there is no funeral service with workers in Hazmat outfits just bury the dead which is a cruel gift of the pandemic. The Wuhan virus has made grieving the loss of a loved one harder with mass gatherings restricted in several parts of the globe as many end up grieving alone. In June, families in Brazil had only 10 minutes to say goodbye to their loved ones. Brazil has the world's second-largest death toll in this pandemic as of July strict guidelines were in place for funerals with social gatherings banned. open casket viewings were not allowed. In May, a cemetery in Sao Paulo was burying 60 bodies in a day with families being given barely a few minutes to bid their loved ones goodbye. The Wuhan virus has infected burials and funerals too. In Egypt, families were stopped from carrying out the Islamic custom of bathing the body before the burial. In Mexico wakes were denied to the deceased and in India, large gatherings have been banned. Many don't even get the solace of a final farewell. In Israel, some hospitals have built a glass booth for families to get a last glimpse of the deceased despite restrictions people have found new ways to show solidarity. Earlier this year in Ireland, Catholic parishioners lined up their cars on a road towards a cemetery when an elderly resident died in Kerry. The vehicles stood seven feet apart and the parishioners paid their last respects from their cars. It has been almost a year since the pandemic began and hospitals still remain inundated with patients as the death toll continues to rise with the virus showing no signs of slowing down.

Tragedy during pandemic: Burying and saying goodbye to loved ones

In Sri Lanka pandemic deaths have triggered a massive controversy. The government insists on cremating all the dead - Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian whatever be the religion.

Muslims and Christians bury their dead and they do not cremate, but the government insists: if you have died because of the Wuhan virus in Sri Lanka, you shall be cremated.

The government's orders have gone against their religious beliefs as the government apparently feels that bodies of Wuhan virus victims will contaminate the groundwater.

The order has been in place since April. The administration has been cremating all victims. &nbsp;The outrage began as the latest victim was just 20 days old - a newborn baby who died due to the virus and was cremated despite the objections from his parents. He has become the face of the campaign.

Baby Shaykh is the youngest victim of the virus in Sri Lanka even before his family could process the devastating news of his death the authorities were "ready to hand over the baby's ashes to them".

At least 15 Muslims have been cremated in Sri Lanka and their families say that the cremations were carried out against their will. There is anger against the government. Muslims in Sri Lanka are being denied a burial.

Colombo doesn't want their bodies to be flown back home. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has made a special request to the Maldives. The Maldivian president's office has responded and they are holding consultations to bury Sri Lankan Muslims in the Maldives.

The order to cremate all came after influential Buddhist monks raised an alarm. They said burying Wuhan virus victims could contaminate the groundwater. They said buried bodies could spread the virus.

However, no such claim has been found in science. Activists have slammed the argument even as global health bodies have said victims can be buried or cremated but the Lankan government has not paid heed to these voices.

Earlier this month, it found support in the Supreme Court. Sri Lanka's highest court turned down all petitions against compulsory cremations emboldened by the Supreme Court's decision the Sri Lankan government rejected demands from 19 Muslim families.

Reports say they refused to claim the bodies because they wanted a burial and not a cremation, however, the Sri Lankan attorney general ordered the local authorities to go ahead with the cremations.

The move has now triggered public anger over the weekend citizens reached the cremation centre and they tied white ribbons to the gates of the cemetery that houses the crematorium. It was removed on Monday.

The protest then moved online with several citizens claiming that the Rajapaksas are using the pandemic to marginalise the Muslims. One user on Twitter claimed that Muslims are being cremated without tests or a positive report, however, it hasn't been independently verified.

The outrage against the government is quite visible now. Sri Lanka largely contained the first wave of cases but, now there is a second wave and the focus is back on the government's response to the pandemic.

The Rajapaksas known for ruthlessly crushing the civil war have been using the same military textbook to defeat the virus. Reports say officials from the military are being given prominence over experienced civil servants even those who have a record in health services.

Earlier this year, a report claimed that key decisions on the pandemic were communicated by Shavendra Silva, the army commander who is the head of Sri Lanka's national operation center for the prevention of COVID-19 outbreak.

Shavendra Silva was called the "public face" of the response. While the pandemic needs a tough response and military precision in managing affairs, the enforced cremations without any scientific basis damage Colombo's record on the pandemic.

In Sri Lanka pandemic deaths have triggered a massive controversy. The government insists on cremating all the dead - Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian whatever be the religion.

In Sri Lanka pandemic deaths have triggered a massive controversy. The government insists on cremating all the dead - Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian whatever be the religion. Muslims and Christians bury their dead and they do not cremate, but the government insists: if you have died because of the Wuhan virus in Sri Lanka, you shall be cremated. The government's orders have gone against their religious beliefs as the government apparently feels that bodies of Wuhan virus victims will contaminate the groundwater. The order has been in place since April. The administration has been cremating all victims. The outrage began as the latest victim was just 20 days old - a newborn baby who died due to the virus and was cremated despite the objections from his parents. He has become the face of the campaign. Baby Shaykh is the youngest victim of the virus in Sri Lanka even before his family could process the devastating news of his death the authorities were "ready to hand over the baby's ashes to them". At least 15 Muslims have been cremated in Sri Lanka and their families say that the cremations were carried out against their will. There is anger against the government. Muslims in Sri Lanka are being denied a burial. Colombo doesn't want their bodies to be flown back home. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has made a special request to the Maldives. The Maldivian president's office has responded and they are holding consultations to bury Sri Lankan Muslims in the Maldives. The order to cremate all came after influential Buddhist monks raised an alarm. They said burying Wuhan virus victims could contaminate the groundwater. They said buried bodies could spread the virus. However, no such claim has been found in science. Activists have slammed the argument even as global health bodies have said victims can be buried or cremated but the Lankan government has not paid heed to these voices. Earlier this month, it found support in the Supreme Court. Sri Lanka's highest court turned down all petitions against compulsory cremations emboldened by the Supreme Court's decision the Sri Lankan government rejected demands from 19 Muslim families. Reports say they refused to claim the bodies because they wanted a burial and not a cremation, however, the Sri Lankan attorney general ordered the local authorities to go ahead with the cremations. The move has now triggered public anger over the weekend citizens reached the cremation centre and they tied white ribbons to the gates of the cemetery that houses the crematorium. It was removed on Monday. The protest then moved online with several citizens claiming that the Rajapaksas are using the pandemic to marginalise the Muslims. One user on Twitter claimed that Muslims are being cremated without tests or a positive report, however, it hasn't been independently verified. The outrage against the government is quite visible now. Sri Lanka largely contained the first wave of cases but, now there is a second wave and the focus is back on the government's response to the pandemic. The Rajapaksas known for ruthlessly crushing the civil war have been using the same military textbook to defeat the virus. Reports say officials from the military are being given prominence over experienced civil servants even those who have a record in health services. Earlier this year, a report claimed that key decisions on the pandemic were communicated by Shavendra Silva, the army commander who is the head of Sri Lanka's national operation center for the prevention of COVID-19 outbreak. Shavendra Silva was called the "public face" of the response. While the pandemic needs a tough response and military precision in managing affairs, the enforced cremations without any scientific basis damage Colombo's record on the pandemic.

Sri Lanka debates: Does burying coronavirus victims contaminate ground water?

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Coronavirus politics: Rajapaksa denies minorities in Sri Lanka basic dignity in death

Tragedy during pandemic: Burying and saying goodbye to loved ones

Sri Lanka debates: Does burying coronavirus victims contaminate ground water?