The Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa

¶ 01 Data on COVID-19 was collected under the leadership of the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health, whose primary objective was to control the pandemic. Since there is no fundamental link between ethnicity/religion and disease, such data were not primarily collected. Therefore, the Ministry of Health does not possess data on COVID-19 deaths disaggregated by ethnicity and religion. However, for deaths where burial was carried out, only religion-wise data are available.

¶ 02 (a) (i) Considering the nature of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and international practices at the time, and for the protection of public health, the “Technical Committee on Management of Cremation of Bodies of Persons Who Died of COVID-19” issued periodic recommendations. Regarding last rites: - Cremation of bodies within 24 hours. - Burial of bodies in designated isolated locations.

¶ 03 For this purpose, the Oddamavadi cemetery was selected for burials.

¶ 04 (ii) From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of deceased COVID-19 bodies managed by cremation was 13,183.

¶ 05 (iii) From 2021.03.05 onward, the number of deceased COVID-19 bodies managed by burial was 3,634.

¶ 06 (iv) According to information available with the Ministry of Health, the number of deceased bodies managed by cremation and burial by sex is as follows: - Cremation: Female 5,136; Male 8,047 - Burial: Female 2,225; Male 1,409 - Total: Female 7,361; Male 9,456

¶ 07 According to ministry information, the number of deceased bodies managed by burial, by religion: - Muslim 2,992 - Buddhist 287 - Hindu 270 - Catholic 85 - Total 3,634

¶ 08 Hon. Member, in addition, the Ministry does not have data disaggregated by age, province, district, or ethnicity for cremations and burials; nor religion-wise for cremations.

¶ 09 (b) Does not arise.