The experts, who are part of the Special Procedures of the U.N Human Rights Council, said in a statement Monday that rule amounts to a human rights violation. Sri Lanka introduced the rule in March, saying there was a risk that bodies with the coronavirus could contaminate the ground water if they were buried. But 9% of people in Sri Lanka are Muslims and many say cremation goes against their religious beliefs. In response the U.N. statement, government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the cremation rule was not meant to discriminate against any group. Sri Lanka has seen 283 deaths from the coronavirus out of more than 59,000 reported infections.

Source: ABC News January 26, 2021 11:40 UTC