SRI LANKA IGNORING PUBLIC PLEAS TO UPDATE ANIMAL WELFARE BILL BY DELAYING IT TO ANOTHER PARLIAMENT
Sri Lanka is the only democratic country in the world without a modern animal welfare law, which has not been updated since 1907.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (July 12, 2024) — A new Animal Welfare Bill has been in the works in Sri Lanka since 2006, but it has yet to pass through Parliament. Dharma Voices for Animals, the only International Buddhist Animal Welfare organization, has been supporting the bill alongside other animal welfare organizations in Sri Lanka since 2019.
The current animal welfare law in Sri Lanka remains unchanged since 1907. It is a severely outdated piece of legislation that lacks the necessary provisions to effectively deter and take action against animal cruelty. This sends the message that harming animals is acceptable in Sri Lanka.
”As Buddhists, we take vows to protect all living beings” says Andrea Diaz, Master of Global Animal Law and DVA Operations Director. “Sri Lanka is a predominantly Buddhist country yet is failing to extend basic protections for animals. These updates are long overdue and the world is urging the current Parliament to not keep passing the responsibility to someone else.”
The new bill would dramatically increase the fines for animal cruelty, which currently stand at mere 33 cents, and will provide more protections for wild, farmed, companion animals, and stray animals. It would prevent elephants from being neglected or killed, and hold offenders accountable for abusing stray cats and dogs, to name a few things.
Despite the fact that the bill has received cabinet approval and 140 members of the current parliament have supported the bill in recorded video, there are government officials who are still stalling the bill.
“We are deeply disappointed that the people who govern this country have not come forward to pass such essential legislation,” says Shanika Gamage, Dharma Voices for Animals’ Sri Lanka Project Director. “It is our responsibility, all of us, to affirm the rights of humans and animals to live in this world. We are calling on Sri Lanka to take action to ensure all beings are given the protections from harm they deserve.”
###NOTES###
Contact: Shanika Gamage, Sri Lanka Project Director, Dharma Voices for Animals, shanika@dharmavoicesforanimals.org
Dharma Voices for Animals (DVA) is a non-profit organization and the only international Buddhist animal advocacy organization in the world. DVA is committed both to practicing the teachings of the Buddha (the Dharma) and to speaking out when the actions of those in Dharma communities and the policies of Dharma centers lead to animal suffering. https://www.dharmavoicesforanimals.org/
Photo credit: You have permission to use all photos and videos with credit:
Credit to Dileepa Wattegam: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JRJNzLdk63aHkU8aYVWm_0Bs9_PhIKen?usp=drive_link
Credit to Pubudu Sithara: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BshZO4fwzZnT5YS20SyHKlhqzdGsMhzy?usp=sharing
