Abu Dhabi: The parents of a Sri Lankan man who drowned in Abu Dhabi are waiting for the pictures of his body to have a last look as he was buried here yesterday, a childhood friend of the deceased told Gulf News.
"They were so sad to lose their son, and even sadder that they could not even see him before he was buried. They actually said that I should at least take some of his pictures [of the body] and send those to them so they can have a last look at their son," Mohammad Imdad said.
Niyas Kalander Lebbe, 28, drowned while out on a swim with his colleagues in Al Bateen area on Friday evening. His body was buried in a graveyard in Bani Yas yesterday.
Police had recovered his body from the water. A police official told Gulf News that there was no foul play in the incident.
"Based on forensic investigations, we have come to the conclusion that there was nothing suspicious in the death of the man. Hence his body was not subject to autopsy," the official said.
His childhood friend said his parents in Sri Lanka were desperately waiting to see their son's body but due to the delay caused by his employer and the Sri Lankan embassy, the body could not be repatriated.
Mohammad Imdad alleged that Lebbe's employers, Al Sadiyat Maintenance Cleaning Establishment had not helped with the legal procedures to repatriate the body. He said that he had himself got Lebbe's death certificate attested and had been willing to do anything to help with the process. But the company had refused to help for a quick repatriation, he said.
No cooperation
Imdad further said that the Sri Lankan embassy had also not cooperated. "I approached the embassy the next day after the incident [Saturday], but nobody was there to attend to my request. They told me to come again on Sunday and again there was a further delay on their part," Imdad said.
He said embassy should have a mechanism to respond immediately to such emergency situation.
Imdad added that Lebbe's parents and relatives in Sri Lanka have not come to terms with the tragedy.
"All of his friends are very sad at this incident. I grew up with him, and I would have found some solace if we could have repatriated the body to his parents. But because of the delay, his parents said that it was better to simply bury him here," Imdad said.
"Our religious belief does not encourage this much delay."
Despite repeated email reminders and phone calls, Al Sadiyat Maintenance Cleaning Establishment and Sri Lankan embassy did not comment.
—With inputs from Rayeesa Absal, Staff Reporter
