The Supreme Court today affirmed the order of the Court of Appeal that it is compulsory to obtain license to carry out animal sacrifice in any religious places of worship.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, Justice Rohini Marasinghe and Sarath Abrew dismissed the appeal filed by the trustees of the Munneswaram Sri Bhadra Kali Amman Kovil against the said order of the Court of Appeal.

The trustees of the Kovil filed an appeal before the Supreme Court against the Court of Appeal Judgment preventing animal sacrifices in any religious places of worship violating the law of the country delivered in respect of a Writ application filed against the Sri Bhadra Kali Amman Kovil in Munneswaram, Chilaw.

Court of Appeal in its judgment delivered on August 29 last year also issued an order that it is compulsory to obtain a license to carry out animal sacrifices in any religious places of worship.

It had observed that in the animal sacrifices at the Sri Bhadrakali Kovil, Munneswaram, the Butchers Ordinance and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are violated and directed the relevant authorities and police to prevent unlawful animal slaughters violating these ordinances.