Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the forced cremation of covid-19 victims in Sri Lanka, whether he has raised the WHO guidelines and advice, which allow for burials for covid-19 victims, with the Sri Lankan Government.

The UK Government is concerned about the Government of Sri Lanka's continued decision to mandate cremations for all Covid-19 victims, and recognises the particular impact this is having on Sri Lankan Muslims and other faith communities. The UK has shared guidance with the Government of Sri Lanka on how burials can continue to operate in a safe format, within the WHO guidelines, to ensure all religious groups can practise their rites.

The Minister of State for South Asia and Minister responsible for Human Rights, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, has raised concerns with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner, most recently in December. Lord Ahmad also raised the importance of minority rights in a call with the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in November. The UK's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka has also raised concerns about mandatory cremations several times with the Sri Lankan Government, most recently on 8 January.