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by Sagarica Rajakarunanayake

We are firmly opposed to the re-construction and converting of the existing abattoir at Dematagoda into a large-scale mechanized slaughterhouse by the Colombo Municipality, for which the government of the Netherlands has given a grant of Rs. 24 million. Our primary objection is that there has been no transparency whatever regarding this project. The slaughter of animals for meat is a highly sensitive issue in our predominantly Buddhist society, and methods of slaughter have been a subject of controversy for the past several years. It is therefore unthinkable that the municipal authorities should attempt to furtively push through an agreement to set up this large - scale abattoir without giving any opportunity for public opinion and debate on this issue.

This government, no sooner it came to power, gave the assurance that the Mahanayake Theras will be consulted on important issues, particularly issues of concern to Buddhists. Has the government consulted them on this issue of converting the existing abattoir at Dematagoda into a large- scale mechanized slaughter house with a capacity of slaughtering over five hundred animals per day?

Our position is quite down to earth. We believe animals should not be slaughtered and their flesh consumed by humans. Yet, we are aware there is a segment of people in this country who consume meat and the state has continued the practice from colonial times of providing abattoirs and meat markets for the supply of meat to these consumers. It would therefore be unrealistic to ask for a total ban on slaughter. Such a stand on our part would push back the campaign for the introduction of animal welfare in slaughterhouses, so critically required. Rather than prohibition, we feel persuasion is the answer and we are happy to find that some vegetarian societies have already started their campaign to this end.

Meanwhile local government authorities should supply meat to consumers through abattoirs meat trade that strictly adhere to principles of hygiene and animal welfare. At present the meat markets are largely supplied by illicit slaughterhouses that operate under foul, unhygienic conditions and animals are slaughtered in a barbaric and cruel fashion. Illicit slaughterhouses must be closed down forthwith. The number of animals slaughtered per day in municipal abattoirs must be controlled to prevent cruelties inflicted on animals by the hurried slaughtering of large numbers. For instance, it is well known that often, soon after the animal's neck is cut, the skinning process begins without sufficient time given for the animal to pass into a state of unconsciousness.

It is indeed a reflection on the callous indifference of the local government authorities, which even fifty-four years after independence have not thought it fit to provide veterinary supervision during slaughter to prevent unnecessary cruelties being inflicted on animals! It is also a reflection on the failure of the Veterinary profession in this country to show sufficient concern as to call for reform in abattoirs and putting an end to cruel practices in the transporting, restraining and slaughter of animals in the meat trade.

Meat production in this country must be aimed at supplying the demand of the local market only. Sri Lanka should not be an exporter of meat for several reasons. Large-scale meat production for export will swallow up our fast dwindling stock of local cattle, already threatened by the huge demand for animals by the local meat processing companies. These animals, unlike imported breeds, are small in weight and not big milk producers. Yet they are resilient, do not require large quantities of fodder, surviving well on scrub vegetation and even garbage in urban areas and are therefore easily maintained by people of a poor economy such as ours.

Most importantly our cattle are free of the killer disease, BSE that started in Britain and is transmittable to humans. There is no doubt that after the massive epidemic of BSE, and recently of Hoof and Mouth disease in Britain, the biggest exporter of Beef to Europe, suspicion still remains in European countries about British beef. It appears they are now looking to markets in developing countries that are uncontaminated and cheap as well. We are not surprised that the Dutch government should come in with a liberal grant to set up a large-scale mechanized abattoir here. It could very well be yet another one of those back handed favours by a developed country to a third world country such as ours, as many such grants have turned out to be!

The government must be aware that by going in for large -scale meat production which the CMC is clearly planning in mechanizing the abattoir, we are in fact opening the doors to hitherto unknown diseases including the dreaded BSE. Large-scale slaughter of cattle will soon lead us to import cattle. One must be mindful that even with the most careful of checks, new diseases can creep in.

The worst is that BSE not only attacks cattle, it is transmittable to humans too. Its human variant CJD is a fatal disease to which the young are said to be the most vulnerable. In Britain this disease killed 88 persons in one year. Although developing countries believe themselves to be free of this deadly infection, in Year 2000 Britain dumped its BSE infected stocks of cattle feed on several third world countries, including Sri Lanka.

In the face of the growing disillusionment of the Western societies themselves with large-scale farming and mechanized slaughter, why should the CMC lead us to adopt this system that has not only poisoned Western societies, but is also beginning to poison the countries of the third world?

The Chief Veterinary Surgeon, Colombo, was reported saying that the Dematagoda abattoir has not been improved for the last century and they are trying to bring reforms and also humanize it. It is not the Dematagoda abattoir alone that must be reformed, but the entire meat trade that is allowed to carry on with largely illicit, unhygienic and inhuman practices.

With regard to humane practices, factory farming and mechanized abattoirs are now increasingly considered among developed societies to be part of a dehumanized system.

Are these the humane practices that the CMC is about to introduce to Sri Lanka? Certainly, humanizing the meat trade is a crying need. We would urge the Mayor and CMC to stop the construction of a large scale mechanized abattoir and use the grant by the Netherlands for genuine reforms such as the purchase of special vehicles for transporting animals without cruelty, setting up small hygienic abattoirs for serving the community and training butchers and handlers in humane attitudes in their work.

We should take a cue from the Minister for Economic Reform, Science and Technology Milinda Moragoda who sees the value of home grown policies in development. The only way to safeguard our cattle resource and save us from being poisoned by a large-scale de-humanized meat industry is to keep our meat industry small and humane. 

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