By Maheesha Mudugamuwa   Over two years have now passed since the Government’s controversial decision to bury people who succumbed to the Covid-19 virus at a designated burial ground in Oddamavadi, Batticaloa.  Burials were carried out for those who did not wish to be cremated, with the majority of those buried in Oddamavadi being Muslims. A 10-acre plot of land was allocated for this purpose and over 3,600 people who lost their lives to Covid-19 have reportedly been buried at the site from March 2021 to March 2022.     No compensation yet   Some residents of Oddamavadi alleged that the land allocated for the burial ground included some plots they had been using for agricultural purposes. However, none of the previous owners of the land have been compensated for their loss to date by the Government. A recent report published by fact-checking organisation Watchdog stated that 14 villagers had lost their lands to the Covid-19 burial site and were still awaiting compensation. The report stated that the land had been taken to create space for the burial ground. Further, of the total allocation of 21.5 acres for the site, only 10 acres are being used, with the remainder serving as a ‘buffer zone’. Majma Nagar Rural Development Society President A.L. Sameem was quoted in the Watchdog observation report saying that people had lost their agricultural and residential lands to the ‘buffer zone’. Sameem had pointed out that approximately 320 families which had been displaced during the war had been resettled at Oddamavadi and their entire livelihood revolved around agriculture. “The villagers face a lot of difficulties in their day-to-day lives, from lack of accessibility to fresh drinking water and toilet facilities to poor road infrastructure. Amidst these, 14 villagers lost their lands to the Covid-19 burial site and didn’t receive any compensation for their losses.”   Land donated   The report stated that the first person to donate three acres of land had been an individual named Jawfer, who claimed he had donated his land without any expectations for the burial ground. He was quoted saying: “It’s not just Muslims who are buried here; even people from other religions wanted to save the bodies of their loved ones from fire. My land is nothing in the face of that need. I spoke to my wife, got her consent, and handed the land over immediately.” Jawfer had told Watchdog that he was contacted by numerous wealthy Muslims who wanted to contribute cash to him for his service, which he had declined. However, if the Government were to provide an alternative plot of land, this would be something he would accept to continue his cultivation, he had said.   Land forcibly taken   According to the report, this is not the case for many others, as adjacent lands belonging to 13 others had been taken over without consent. Watchdog revealed that one land owned by a resident named M.A. Muhideen (49), also of an agricultural background, had been taken over by the Divisional Secretary. “The Divisional Secretary summoned us and told us that alternate lands would be provided within 10 days of ours being taken. It’s been over a year now and we’ve not got anything at all,” Muhideen had told the fact checkers who compiled the observation report following onsite visits made to the Oddamavadi village. It was further reported that the Pradeshiya Sabha had written to the Ministry of Health regarding this matter several times, and had also met the Army Commander for the Eastern Province. “Nothing came of it until February 2022, when the Government finally allowed for burials in local cemeteries,” the report said.     Burial issue   There has been public debate over the manner in which the Muslims who died of Covid-19 should be handled. In line with Muslim belief, the remains of their dead should be buried and not cremated. However, the Government initially announced that the bodies of all those who died of Covid-19 would be cremated, citing aversion within society to the burial of those who had died of Covid-19 due to lack of research and scientific evidence. The decision was condemned by local and international rights groups within Sri Lanka and overseas, with many decrying the decision as being cruel and unnecessary. After months-long debates, the Government Gazette 2216/38 on 25 February revoked the forced cremations policy for the Covid-19 deceased and allowed burials. It was in early March 2021 that the Covid-19 burials were conducted in Majma Nagar, Oddamavadi. The Government banned burials of Covid-19 victims in April 2020 – despite expert assurances that such burials would not spread the virus – and implemented a policy of forced cremations. At the time, the 11-member expert panel (which included virologists, microbiologists, and immunologists providing their expert opinion on the safe disposal of human remains of Covid-19 infected people), through its report submitted to the Health Ministry, stated that both cremation and burial were permissible under strict guidelines. The members of the panel consisted of Professor in Microbiology Neelika Malavige, Consultant Virologist Dr. Geethani Galagoda, Consultant Virologist Dr. Janaki Abeynayake, Consultant Immunologist Dr. Rajeeva de Silva, Consultant Vaccinologist Dr. Kanthi Nanayakkara, Consultant Microbiologist Dr. Malika Karunaratne, Consultant Virologist Dr. Saranga Sumathipala, Consultant Virologist Dr. Nadeeka Janage, Consultant Virologist Dr. Rohitha Muthugala, and Consultant Virologist Dr. Dulmini Kumarasinghe. The panel was requested to provide scientific evidence and expert opinion on the behaviour of the SARS CoV-