Dr Ahmed Shaheed visited the country earlier this month by invitation from the government in response to the Easter Sunday terror attacks that took place in April. 

His preliminary findings were published on Monday, in which he highlighted the hostilities faced by Christian and Muslim communities including interruption of worship, property damage, violence and intimidation and the failure of the state to protect religious minorities. 

Dr Shaheed said: “The long-standing traditions of religious harmony and co-existence in Sri Lanka must be reinforced to address the challenges of the modern context of the country.  

“This is characterised by growing politicisation of religion, polarisation of communities through segregated education based on ethno-religious identity, opening up of under-regulated spaces for communication  through privatised electronic media and spread of social media, simmering resentment against perceived majoritarian privilege, growing frustration over capricious law enforcement, and the spread of religious extremism.” 

In his recommendations, Dr Shaheed concluded that Sri Lanka should take stronger measures to stop religious hatred by prosecuting perpetrators and implementing systems, “to monitor and respond to hate speech in conformity with international human rights standards.” 

Religious freedom…

The Co-op said its research revealed a “staggering shift” towards a less conventional style of funeral, with some unique ways of disposing of people’s remains.

Some people want their ashes put inside a firework or the furnace of a steam train, or made into jewellery, paperweights or pendants, said the Co-op.

Its survey of 4,000 adults and a number of Co-op funeral directors indicated that just one in 10 people wanted a traditional religious funeral.

The use of pallbearers to carry coffins has fallen in the last five years, while there are also fewer obituaries, said the Co-op.

Requests for ceremonies to take place away from churches have increased, with locations including a zoo, on a bus, on a golf course or in a teepee, said the report.

Most of the Co-op’s undertakers said they have arranged a funeral where mourners wore bright clothing and half have known mourners to dress in jeans and tracksuits.

Samantha Tyrer, managing director of Co-op Funeralcare, said: “The funeral sector is rapidly changing. Whilst 16.5 million of us still feel uncomfortable talking about death, we’re clear on what we want and, in the majority of cases, it’s no longer a traditional funeral service.

“Our funerals represent the unique life an individual has lived. More so now than ever before, we’re seeing requests for wonderfully personalised ceremonies, whether that be on the…