Mervyn thanks Kali Devale Chief Priest for halting animal sacrifice

Public Relations and Public Affairs Minister Mervyn Silva yesterday thanked the Chief Priest and the administrators of the Sri Badrakali Devale in Munneswaram for agreeing to halt the planned animal sacrifice at the Devale precincts.

The minister also showered blessings on President Mahinda Rajapaksa for intervening to put a stop to the animal sacrifice.

The minister said last year too he made a request to stop the animal sacrifice which was ignored prompting him to release all animals brought for sacrifice at the kovil.

He pledged in future too not to permit this cruel practice, a pledge he will make on behalf of the people of Kelaniya and the whole country.

While declaring his honoured thanks to the devale administrators for not proceeding with the animal sacrifice the minister called for a dialogue with the Chief Priest of the devale.

The minister also called on the devale authorities to carry out their rituals without resorting to animal sacrifice respecting the sensitivities of other religions pledging to extend all assistance to the devale.