Anti rabies campaign in Bentota
For the first time in the history of tourism, Sri Lanka Tourism
initiated an anti rabies campaign organized by the Sri Lanka Tourism
Development Authority (SLTDA). In the first event in this series,
vaccination of dogs took place in the Bentota resort area recently.
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The anti rabies campaign in progress |
Bentota is the first tourist resort in the country, to be set up in
the early 1970s and today has six SLTDA approved hotels with approx. 600
rooms, to its credit. On an average day, at least 500 tourists can be
found in the area.
During the recent past, it was noticed that there were a substantial
number of stray dogs at the beach and surrounding area, and the
Community Relations Division of the SLTDA initiated a project to
vaccinate them.
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Dogs brought for vaccination |
This project was discussed with the community residing in the area
and subsequently with the Ministry of Health, and was carried out with
the fullest cooperation of all parties involved.
Initial awareness was created about the activity in the locality,
from around 3 days leading up to the event, and the programme was
carried out in the Bentota resort area. Three doctors and their
assistants from the Ministry of Health overlooked the vaccination
process and 51 dogs were vaccinated while 21 dogs were sterilized.
Commenting on this innovative project, P U Rathnayake, Director
Domestic Tourism and Community Relations of SLTDA said, “It is the
support of the community that enabled us to make a success of this
project. They not only brought the dogs to the site, but also assisted
the medical team in vaccinating and other support activities.”
He further stated that measures should be taken to solve the garbage
problem, and activities such as visitors feeding the dogs that encourage
the growth of the stray dogs population, should be addressed, in finding
a lasting solution to this problem. Chairman of SLTDA and SLTPB, Bernard
Goonetilleke said, “This campaign builds on the values of not harming
dogs, but treating them in a humane manner.
We hope to implement this programme in many areas countrywide, and
measures have been taken to hold similar clinics in Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna,
and Mt. Lavinia, in the initial stage, as beach tourism is a key segment
of attraction, in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka Tourism press release
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