Monitor animal research - Don

Disna MUDALIGE

The need of a regulatory authority to monitor animal research was stressed by Colombo University Medicine Faculty Senior Lecturer Dr. Mangala Gunatilake.

"There is no regulatory authority to monitor animal research in Sri Lanka. There were incidents of misusing animals to perform unethical surgeries. Three healthy dogs taken for adoption were subjected to such a surgery in 2007. It was after that, the request to develop guidelines for ethics of animal research was brought out," she said.

She was addressing a workshop on 'Ethics of Science and Technology for Journalists' at the National Science Foundation last Friday.

Environmental Lawyer Jagath Gunawardena said a precautionary approach should be followed, when dealing with new technology and new applications since these may lead to unwanted results.

"We must also be careful in biodiversity use and physical resource use, since the overuse of one species may result in a break up of the natural chain.

Waste disposal should also be carefully done. If not this may cause chronic ailments with the lapse of 15 or 20 years.

Environment justice, intergenerational equity and respect for nature must be preserved in everything we do," he said.

He said emphasis should be made for sharing of resources, while giving priority for the future than just fulfilling present needs.

"These are regarded as environmental ethics that should be followed by every citizen," he added.