Reporting incidents on animal cruelty
The Nikewaratiya incident has received much attention on social media including the Prime Minister, President and MP Namal Rajapaksa. The incident is believed to have taken place at a private poultry farm in Kobeigane. Eye witnesses claim that this has been happening for quite some time but no authority had questioned them so far. Speaking about the incident, Hrithik Jayasuriya, a young animal rights activist said that the people at the farm had shot the dog claiming that it had rabies.
“But if you watch the video it clearly shows that the dog is absolutely fine.
They have not only shot the dog but had hammered it with the back of the gun afterwards. These incidents have been continuously happening at this farm but people are reluctant to report them. Thereafter I saw the original video which had only around 100 views and let it go viral. It also reached the Prime Minister, President and Namal Rajapaksa.
Thereafter the PM immediately issued a statement requesting for an inquiry on the matter.”
He further said that without passing the Animal Welfare Bill the country cannot expect a sustainable future. “Passing this Bill will end a lot of these incidents. People need to get together and push the government.
As means of creating awareness, anybody can now report an incident of cruelty towards animals with the hashtag - #passtheanimalrightsbilllk.
This way everybody could be a part of it and be a contributor for change.
The government can research and find out different solutions to address matters pertaining to wildlife.”
He also pointed out that after passing the Bill it also has to be implemented by an authority and should be led by someone with experience and someone who understands the subject matter.
Passing this Bill will end a lot of these incidents. People need to get together and push the government. As means of creating awareness, anybody can now report an incident of cruelty towards animals with the hashtag
- #passtheanimal rightsbilllk. This way everybody could be a part of it and be a contributor for change”