Meat processing factory, a disgrace to country: Sobitha Thera

By Ajith Siriwardana

It was a bad reputation and a disgrace to the country to have opened a massive meat processing factory in Katunayake with the blessings of the government, National Intellectuals' Council Chairman Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera said yesterday.

Ven. Sobitha Thera told a news conference that the media had reported that the said factory could cater to around 10% of the world’s meat production.
“Though the government has not officially made an announcement on this meat processing factory, we came to know about it through the media. As citizens of this country, we have a right to know who owns this, what is the purpose of establishing this factory, the prelate said.

He said the government should have considered the environmental and ethical impact that could cause to the country and also the disgrace the country would have to face through such slaughtering of animals.
“Sri Lanka has created world records through disgraceful means. We have our names in the record books being the highest individual alcohol consumers in the world, a hub for providing cheap labour and a country that consumes the highest volume of toxins,” he said and added that this factory would earn a name for the country as the highest animal slaughtering nation,” he said.

Ven. Sobitha Thera said they were happy when the proposal was brought to ban cattle slaughtering. However, the implementation of the said proposal was postponed weeks later, perhaps due to some influence.