DO NOT DELAY THE ENACTMENT OF THE ANIMAL WELFARE BILL IN SRI LANKA 

Cruelty to animals  is escalating.                            And, the nature of that cruelty is horrendous.        Yet, Sri Lanka’s law to combat such cruelty is totally inadequate.

That is why the  "ANIMAL WELFARE BILL"      prepared by the Law Commission of Sri Lanka and presented to the government of Sri Lanka in 2006 should be enacted without further delay.   

This Bill will replace Sri Lanka’s archaic Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance of 1907,  enacted over a century ago during colonial rule, and which is totally insufficient to deal with the many acts of animal cruelty that occur daily in Sri Lanka, as : 

• that Ordinance applies only to a limited category of animals;
• it does not cover a vast range of acts which amount to cruelty;
• the punishments for the offences are a mere fine of Rs.100 and a jail term of three months; and 
• there is no government institution dedicated to deal with the subject.

The Animal Welfare Bill,                                                on the other hand :

• applies to all species of animals;
• introduces an extensive range of new offences; 
• prescribes stringent punishments;  and 
• provides for the establishment of a "National           Animal Welfare Authority" with wide powers to   deal with animal cruelty.

We call upon the government to expedite the process of enacting the Animal Welfare Bill.

EVERY MINUTE DELAYED IS A LIFE TIME OF AGONY FOR THE VOICELESS ANIMALS