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sathva Mithra' condemns abattoir project

'Sathva Mithra' an activist group of animal lovers has come out strongly against the Netherlands aided abattoir modernisation project in Dematagoda in a note of protest to the Ambassador for the Netherlands in Colombo.

"Sri Lanka is largely a Buddhist country and the slaughter of animals, particularly cattle is a sensitive issue amongst the Buddhist public". Any attempt by a foreign Government, especially in this case "because there has been no transparency whatever", could very well be seen as an attempt to undermine the Buddhist culture of the country, the association warned.

"We understand from the newspapers that the government of the Netherlands will give a grant of Rs. 240 million for the reconstruction and modernizing of the abattoir at Dematagoda, enhancing its capacity to enable the slaughter of 500 or more animals per day". Sathva Mithra said.

"We wish to place before you certain facts with regard to the reconstruction of the Dematagoda abattoir, which we believe will place the project in its proper perspective, and prompt Your Excellency to urge your government to stop assisting the construction of a large-scale abattoir in our country".

"We write to you especially because there has been no transparency whatever by the authorities concerned here regarding this project to reconstructed the abattoir. Although a preliminary agreement has already been signed between the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) and the Dutch Contractor, the project has been kept a secret by the CMC and the public came to know of it just over a month ago, from a news item in the Press. Since then, several NGOs including ourselves, have requested the Mayor of Colombo for copies of the feasibility report of the project and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two governments. These requests have met with silence from the Mayor", the association added.

"Importing food animals could lead to opening our gates to diseases such as BSE, which as you know, when it occurred in Britain, caused a major problem in Europe and spread fear all over the world".

"We are aware of the fact that strict legislation is in force in your country and other Western countries with regard to health, hygiene and animal welfare in farms and slaughterhouses. Further, requirements of the EU regarding these aspects have to be strictly observed by its member countries in the importing and exporting of animals and meat. Despite this, we are surprised that your Government has failed to ascertain the position with regard to health, hygiene and animal welfare prevailing in Sri Lanka, before entering into an agreement to fund a large scale mechanized abattoir in Colombo".

"The Chief Veterinary Surgeon has stated that Dutch architects and builders with experience in building abattoirs will do the re-construction of the Dematagoda abattoir. We believe it is we in this country who must decide what is a friendly environment for our cattle in an abattoir. Our cattle are brought from rural areas where they have been free rangers, and not from factory farms as in Europe. The real need for funds and other assistance is not for the construction of a large-scale, abattoir, but to introduce modern standards of health, hygiene and animal welfare in this country in all aspects of the meat industry", Sathava Mithra's President Sagarica Rajakarunanayake concluded.

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