- Comm. to coordinate arrangements to ensure right to burial or cremation
- Nat. Ramadan festival called off to donate funds to support Gaza conflict victims
President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that a new committee would be established to coordinate arrangements for the last rites of individuals in accordance with their religious customs or final wishes, including those within the Muslim community.
He also expressed his commitment to enact the relevant legislation in the future. These remarks were made during his attendance at the Ifthar ceremony held on 7 April at the Jumma Mosque in Katukele, Kandy.
President Wickremesinghe, addressing the event, further added: “It’s noteworthy that Ramadan coincides with the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, reflecting a culture of inclusivity transcending racial and religious barriers throughout our history. Efforts are also underway to regulate Madrasa (religious education) schools under the Ministry of Education, mirroring the oversight of private education. In 2019, steps were taken to address obstacles related to Muslim literature. The recent pandemic posed challenges for the Muslim community in conducting proper last rites, causing immense distress. To address this, future legislation will enable individuals to carry out their last rites in accordance with their religious beliefs or final wishes, ensuring everyone’s right to burial or cremation. We are committed to formulating the necessary regulations to honour individuals’ preferences in this regard. As Sri Lanka observes Ramadan today, a sombre situation unfolds in the Gaza Strip, where the Muslim community mourns the loss of approximately 35 lives. In light of this tragedy, we have decided to forego the national Ramadan festival this year (2024) and allocate the funds to support the people of Gaza. Additionally, a commitment has been made to construct a school in Gaza once the conflict subsides. Our stance remains firm in opposing the dissolution of the Palestinian State, and we stand in solidarity to end the ongoing conflict”.
Contributions totalling Rs. 10 million from the Kattankudy Mosque, Rs. 2.2 million from the Katukele Jumma Mosque, and Rs. 3.5 million from Muslim foreign employment agencies have been handed over to President Wickremesinghe for distribution among the affected Muslim community.