Speaking in parliament, Nigel Adams, Minister for Asia at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development, expressed concern over anti-Muslim sentiment in Sri Lanka.
This was during a discussion on attacks on religious freedom during the COVID-19 pandemic, Adams stated:
“We are also concerned by the rise of anti-Muslim sentiment and the decision by the Sri Lankan Government to mandate cremations for all those deceased due to COVID—Lord Ahmad has raised that issue with the high commissioner. Ministers and officials at the high commission in Colombo continue to urge the Sri Lankan Government to ensure the protection of Christians, Muslims and other minorities in that country”.
This concern was shared by Britain’s Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Stephen Doughty, who raised the issue of Sri Lankan Muslims being denied burial rights alongside other religious communities across the world.
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous, Member of Parliament for South West Bedfordshire, further noted concerns for Christians in Sri Lanka, stating:
“In countries such as Sri Lanka, where there used to be a degree of stability, an increase in destabilising violence has led to much greater difficulties for Christians”.
Read their full statements here.
