Why Sri Lanka's Pro-butcher, Anti-Animal, Animal "Cruelty" Act of 2022 should not be passed as it is

The Animal Welfare Bill proposed by the Law Commission in 2006 (and verbatim reproduced in the Private Members Bill tabled by Ven. Athureliya Rathana Thera, in Parliament, in October 2010) has been hijacked by the Meat Trade and its collaborators and converted into an Animal Welfare Bill (2022) protecting not the innocent animals but the interests of the Poultry and Meat trade, and those who use live Animals in totally unnecessary experiments despite the availability of viable non-violent and harmless suitable alternatives.
The Animal Welfare Bill (2006) introduced a robust legal framework and powers for protecting all animals. It was destined to become an International Gold Standard at least for countries in Asia.
How we treat animals, and the legislation we must have to govern animal welfare, is a hallmark of a civilized society. Animals have always enjoyed a high priority status in our pre-colonial civilization running for over 2, 500 years. That has always been a source of pride for this nation and drew a lot of respect from the neighbouring countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia. In ancient times the inhabitants of Sri Lanka i.e., the Buddhist Sinhalese, were called the ‘Arya Vamsa’ (people of noble character) because of our caring and compassionate attitudes towards non-human living beings. This hallowed tradition should be continued.
Today, we should be constantly looking to improve and refine our legislation in the area of animal welfare. It is a moral duty.
The Animal Welfare Bill of Sri Lanka (2022) with its inhumane and draconian amendments enshrines 'Cruelty' within a facade of a legal framework. It is a retrograde step. A slur on Sri Lanka's image. It must not be enacted in Parliament.
Mr. Senaka Weeraratna
LLB (Ceylon), LLM (Monash), Barrister and Solicitor (Victoria),
Attorney-at-Law, Former Honorary Legal Consultant to the Sri Lanka Law Commission on Animal Welfare Legislation (2000 - 2006)
Drafted first draft of the Animal Welfare Bill for Members of the Law Commission and steered the drafting process until its finalization in 2006

[@HelpAnimalsIndia]

Thank you for covering this, wishing you all great success in reforming this bill!

[@naturetv_srilanka]

Tks for your concern!