Director-General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena has informed the Galle Police in writing to conduct the final rites of a COVID-19 infected person at Deddugoda in Galle according to previous circulars for the cremation of COVID-19 victims and to inform the Galle Additional Magistrate, Pavithra Sanjeewani Pathirana about these instructions.
The patient succumbed to COVID-19 on December 19. Taking into consideration the Health Ministry circular for the cremation of COVID-19 victims, the Acting Coroner of the Galle Teaching Hospital, Chandrasena Lokuge ordered the body to be cremated on December 20. The son of the deceased refused to accept the remains unless the body was to be buried. The police and the relatives of the deceased requested the court on December 21 to issue orders with regards to the final rites of the person.