7 June 2021 12:10 am
Bill is still at a discussion stage and observations are being done by Ministry of Agriculture and Department of Animal Production and Health. “It will be discussed in Parliament soon.
The delay is due to
COVID and the prevailing situation.”
Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation C. B Ratnayake
X-Press Pearl inferno causes major impact on marine environments
The Bill will hopefully be taken before Cabinet next Tuesday (8th of June). “But this is not the final version and the Certificate of Constitutionality should be issued by the Attorney General’s Department. But this is a big step.”
Animal rights activist and attorney-at-law Lalani Perera
Two new species of geckoes found in Sri Lanka
Animal abuse incidents and the Animal Welfare Bill
The welfare of animals in Sri Lanka is governed by the archaic Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance No. 13 of 1907 that allows a perpetrator to pay a mere Rs. 100 and get away after committing any heinous act to an animal. A country that has listened to the words of the Buddha and portrayed itself as a Buddhist country has largely ignored how animals have been mistreated. From elephants held in captivity to accidents, deliberate attacks on stray animals the list is endless. But several animal welfare activists are continuing the struggle to pass the long overdue Animal Welfare Bill. As per the last update a group of activists met with then Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage who had promised to brief the Cabinet.
The unexpected inferno that occurred onboard X-Press Pearl cargo vessel caused much pollution to Sri Lankan waters. The vessel carried around 25 tonnes of nitric acid and chemicals such as caustic soda, solid sodium methoxide, vinyl acetate, ethanol and the amount of chemicals or containers that leaked to the ocean is yet to be analysed.
But that was that. Animal sacrifice rituals and holding animals in captivity continue to take place in religious institutions contradicting the principles of kindness and compassion. Deliberate attempts to hurt stray animals have been reported from all over the island, including that of an American Pitbull, Kane from Kuliyapitiya who was at the receiving end of a personal dispute. Many reports of lost and found cases have also been reported and speculation is rife about possible attempts of illegal breeding. Many are of the view that the Animal Welfare Bill would go along the same tide as that of the cattle slaughter ban. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa announced the ban on cattle slaughter in September 2020 but ironically, three months later, Sri Lanka also witnessed the opening of South Asia’s largest meat processing plant.