Sri Lanka: 'No authority responsible for animal welfare'

[Guest guest]

http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/10/09/news25.asp

 

'No authority responsible for animal welfare'

Nadira Gunatilleke

 

Tuesday, 9 October 2007

 

COLOMBO: There is no Minister or authority who bears

responsibility for animal welfare in Sri Lanka

although many persons, organisations and bhikkus have

pointed out the importance of treating this as a

special subject and the need for bringing this subject

under a Cabinet Minister.

 

This was revealed during a press briefing held at the

Mahaweli Centre recently in connection with the

proposed Bill on animal welfare which is currently

being shunted around from one institution to another.

 

There is no minister to present this Bill in the

Parliament and at the moment there is no authority

responsible for animal welfare in Sri Lanka apart from

the police.

 

According to the speakers there is a possibility of

bringing this Bill into the Parliament as a private

members' motion which does not require a Cabinet

Minister. An authority is required to take care of the

subject of animal welfare. The public should pressure

the relevant authorities to get this Bill presented to

Parliament.

 

H.M.P.B. Kotakadeniya said that under previous regimes

even talking about preventing cattle slaughter was

something dangerous and such persons were labelled as

racists. Under the present Government led by President

Mahinda Rajapaksa anyone can talk about prohibiting

cattle slaughter.

 

He said that having a President who lived according to

the cultural ethos of the country was most gratifying.

 

Pointing out the existing law he said that since 1907

there is only a Rs. 100 fine and three month

imprisonment for people who kill and ill-treat animals

which is outdated and inadequate for a Buddhist

country like Sri Lanka.

 

Addressing the press briefing the Chairperson of the

Animal Welfare Trust, Mrs. Iranganee De Silva said

that it is very important to put a full stop to cattle

slaughter for beef.

 

Pointing out some practices adopted by neighbouring

countries she said that Bhutan never kills even a

single cow and import all the meat required for

foreigners and others. India does not allow the

slaughtering of cattle.

 

Referring to certain acts carried out by some elements

she said that rescuing cattle from slaughter houses by

paying thousands of rupees only encourages slaughter

house owners to bring more cattle to slaughter using

the funds donated by people and it will not decrease

the slaughtering of cattle but increase it in an

indirect way.