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‘Protect beef eaters’ rights until cattle slaughter banned’

19 Jul 2021

  • State Ministry writes to CMC
BY Dinitha Rathnayake The State Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government Affairs has sought the support of local government authorities to stop cattle slaughter whilst safeguarding the rights of those who consume beef until the proposed new law banning such slaughter comes into effect. In a letter sent by Secretary to the State Minister S.D.A.B. Boralessa to the Colombo Municipal Commissioner, the former had stated that until the said policy becomes a law and rule, the authorities in municipal councils, urban councils, and pradeshiya sabhas have the right to act in compliance with the government policy with regard to cattle slaughter whilst safeguarding the rights of the people who eat beef. The ban on cattle slaughter, which was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in September 2020, is scheduled to be implemented soon, where the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs is discussing the final draft. Secretary to the Ministry Prof. Kapila Gunawardana told The Morning that the Government is in the final stages of discussions with the Attorney General (AG) regarding the drafting of a new Act to ban the slaughter of cattle. “Banning cattle slaughter is mainly to solve the problems of dairy farmers. Currently, people who slaughter cattle for meat slaughter female cows and calves as well, which in turn results in economic losses to dairy farmers,” stressed Prof. Gunawardana. In September 2020, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s proposal to the Cabinet to ban the slaughter of cattle was approved. It was reported at the time that the Cabinet would especially consider amending the Animals Act No. 29 of 1958 and the Butchers Ordinance No. 9 of 1893. The Department of Census and Statistics records the Gampaha District as having slaughtered the highest number of cattle at licensed slaughterhouses in 2019, amounting to 10,859 cattle. Meanwhile, the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) tabled a motion related to the slaughter of cattle where they seek approval for slaughter permits. Slaughter permits were banned in the CMC area in accordance with a letter asking to cancel permits that had been sent by the State Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government Affairs earlier.


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