Sri Lanka is an island off the coast of India in the Bay of Bengal. It is estimated that there is 3 million street dogs
One of the major problems in Sri Lanka is the vast number of stray dogs wandering the streets (island wide). It is estimated that there are currently over 3 million street dogs in Sri Lanka, many of whom suffer immensely through malnutrition, untreated diseases and horrific injuries generally caused by humans.
,Colombo: Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage has stated that the Cabinet of Ministers has approved a bill to impose a fine of Rs. 125,000 and a minimum of three years imprisonment for animal cruelty and animal abuse.
Minister Aluthgamage said cruel torture of any animal in farms, houses, in the jungle or in the wild will be prevented under this animal welfare program.
Mr. Aluthgamage said that the Animal Cruelty Ordinance passed in 1907 was currently in force for the welfare of animals in the country and that the maximum fine that could be imposed for animal cruelty under that Act was Rs. 100. Therefore, steps have been taken to amend the Act, he said.
Approval to complete the drafting of the Animal Welfare Bill immediately has been granted by the Cabinet Meeting held at 19th October, 2020.
Accordingly, the clearance of the Attorney General has been received for the said bill that drafted by the Legal Draftsman, a statement on cabinet decisions said.
At the cabinet meeting held Monday, the Cabinet of Ministers gave their consent for the proposal submitted by the Minister of Agriculture to publish the bill in the government gazette and subsequently submit to the Parliament for approval.
The Minister also said that a separate unit will be established under a veterinary officer to operate with the new Animal Welfare Act.
Activists claim abducted dogs in Colombo, sold for meat.
COLOMBO (News 1st); Animal Rights Activists in Sri Lanka are concerned if dogs and puppies abducted from Colombo, are being sold as meat to foreign nationals.
In our continuing coverage on the ‘Dog-Napping’ Saga in Colombo, it has come to light that these animals may be being drugged, in order to sedate them.
In Sri Lanka, current laws don’t protect dogs from abuse or neglect.
Sri Lanka is home to millions of roaming street dogs and cats, who suffer immeasurable pain from diseases, vehicle accidents, and cruelty.
Overpopulation of street dogs (and cats) has been an issue that societies have dealt with in a variety of ways, many inhumane. Animal welfare in Sri Lanka is rarely considered, and as a result, campaigns of poisoning, shooting, electrocution, drowning, starvation and other cruel methods have been used to "dispose" of unwanted animals. Such activities are not only brutal; they are ineffective because, although they may serve as methods for “immediate” results, they are not long-term solutions.The life of an uncared-for street dog can be wretched. Entire lives spent without any positive human contact, basic shelter or veterinary care.
Suffering hunger, constant torment from preventable and treatable skin conditions or parasitic infections. Dogs and cats are at constant risk of being trapped in illegal snares, injured in fights over territory, contracting sexually transmitted diseases or being exposed to fatal diseases like rabies. In Sri Lanka, the most effective way to deal with the street dog overpopulation crisis is through
Sri Lanka’s Presidential advisor resigns following leaked footage of him sexually abusing a dog
Sri Lanka’s Presidential advisor, Ashu Marasinghe has been forced to resign after leaked footage showed him sexually abusing a dog.
The footage was revealed by former MP Hirunika Premachandra during a media briefing on Friday. During the briefing, she identified the dog’s owner as Aadarsha Karandana who had been in a two-year relationship with Marasinghe after meeting on Facebook.
Karandana claimed that she had grown suspicious of Marasinghe as her dog’s behaviour began to change. She would go on to secretly record these acts of bestiality without Marasinghe’s knowledge. When confronted by Karandana, Marasinghe abused Karandana.
During the media briefing, Premachandra maintained that Marasinghe could be found guilty of offenses under Sri Lanka’s Penal Code and could face up to 20 years in prison.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have urged for an investigation into the matter stating:
“PETA urges the Sri Lankan government to thoroughly investigate the allegations against the presidential advisor, and if true, punish him to the fullest extent under Sri Lankan laws. People who abuse animals, including sexually, often move on to human victims,” Daphna Nachminovitch, Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations at PETA United States said.
Ashu Marasinghe is a senior Sri Lankan politician having served as Assistant Chief Government Whip, Chairman of the State Engineering Corporation of Sri Lanka, and as a Professor at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
Please contact to Protest the treatment of Dogs and Cats in Sri Lanka
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena ps@presidentsoffice.lk
Hon. Keheliya Rambukwella, M.P.Minister of Health ps@presidentsoffice.lk
Hon. Amaraweera Mahinda, M.P.Minister of Agriculture ps@presidentsoffice.lk
Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms ps@presidentsoffice.lkHon. Nalaka Jude Hareen Fernando, M.P.Minister of Tourism and Lands ps@presidentsoffice.lk
Dog shooting highlights Sri Lanka’s need for stricter animal cruelty laws
COLOMBO — The horrific fatal shooting of a 1 1/2-year-old Rottweiler in Sri Lanka has sparked fresh concerns about the country’s outdated animal cruelty laws.
Rexie went missing in the early hours of Aug. 8 in Galgamuwa, some 170 kilometers (105 miles) northeast of the capital Colombo and was found in a forest three days later.
Sri Lanka’s outdated laws on animal welfare are 115 years old and were introduced when the country was under the British yoke.
With violence toward animals reported on more frequently, animal rights groups are calling for tougher laws to combat cases of animal cruelty.
The current punishment for mistreating an animal is $0.27 and is among the lowest in South Asia.
A proposed animal welfare law has not been adopted despite being placed on the parliamentary agenda on 44 occasions.
Animal Welfare Laws in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s outdated laws on animal welfare are 115 years old and were introduced when the country was under the British yoke.
With violence toward animals reported on more frequently, animal rights groups are calling for tougher laws to combat cases of animal cruelty.
The current punishment for mistreating an animal is $0.27 and is among the lowest in South Asia.
A proposed animal welfare law has not been adopted despite being placed on the parliamentary agenda on 44 occasions.
Organisations Helping the Dogs and Cats of Sri Lanka
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UNLIKE YOUR PAMPERED PETS, A SRI LANKAN STREET DOG CAN FACE LIFE ALONE.
In Sri Lanka, current laws don’t protect dogs from abuse or neglect.
When there are more dogs than homes, suffering follows, unwanted puppies are left on the road, hundreds of thousands of dogs roam the streets, and the endemic threat of rabies is ever looming. Since 2020 regular lockdowns have cut off many dogs from their normal feeders creating an additional crisis.
It's your love and compassion that changes this, you make these tails wag again, you're putting evidence-based animal welfare to work and transforming the present and future for dogs in Sri Lanka. Starting with just one dog, you can change a street. A town. And through community led education, create a generation of animal-loving guardians.
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Sri Lanka street dog rescue
Do you love dogs as much as we do? We need your help in Sri Lanka on our new street dog initiative that aims to help protect and care for man’s best friend and to improve the animal-human relationship within the local community.
Being a dog in Sri Lanka is a hard life and one of the things you will notice when you first arrive onto the island is just how many strays there are wandering the beaches and streets – upwards of 3 million in total! The lack of food, shelter and care drastically reduces the lifespan of a street dog and with the rising prevalence of rabies, the future unfortunately does not look good for most.
We urgently need volunteers like you to help monitor, take care of and feed the 100+ street dogs that have currently been identified in the local area. You will contribute to a long term and sustainable programme that aims to reduce the number of streets dogs within the local village and then further afield through sterilisation campaigns, education and re-homing initiatives.
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Our Mission
1. To rescue animals in dire need
2. To provide quality veterinary care & rehabilitation
3. To stabilise the stray dog & cat population through spay/neutering programs
4. To eradicate rabies, creating a healthier environment for humans and animals
5. To provide education & adoption programmes
