Enacting Animal Welfare Bill vital for SL: Ven. Athuraliye Thera

The Animal Welfare Coalition of Sri Lanka, set up to advocate a new Animal Welfare Bill, recently organised a consultation in Colombo to raise awareness on the subject matter among community service organisations, policymakers and the general public. The event was attended by veterinary doctors, lawyers, policymakers, activists, animal shelter groups and media personnel. “It is vital for the parliament to pass the Animal Welfare Bill as it looks into a series of concerns including the transportation of animals and humane slaughter. It also lays the foundation to establish the relevant authorities for the cause,” MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera who initiated the Bill through a private member Bill in Parliament said. 

However, the consultation sought to obtain an update on the stance of Sri  Lanka as far as the Bill was concerned, and also the existing policies that could be linked with the work on the Bill. 
“The ministry has redrafted the Bill by incorporating public comments into it. It is now awaiting Cabinet approval. Once approved, we will be able to regulate the commercial breeding of dogs, and implement and localize the standards set by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE),” Dr Sam Daniels, Consultant to the Social Services, Welfare and Livestock Development Ministry said.

 
Commenting on the need for a new Animal Welfare Bill, Convener of Animal Welfare Coalition, Attorney Vositha Wijenayake said, “It is important that the Animal Welfare Bill is enacted to ensure effective and efficient laws on cruelty to animals in Sri Lanka. The current law dates back to 1907, and lacks in deterrent effect which prevents protection of animals against cruelty.” 

The Animal Welfare Coalition founded in 2015 further aims to work on the effective implementation of the Bill once enacted. It will address issues that violate the protection of animal welfare.