A Poson plea

"Tissa, Tissa," called out the son of Emperor Ashoka, one of history's greatest humanists to the King of Lanka Devanampiyatissa on that day in the month of Poson in the 3rd century BCE. He asked the monarch who was on a hunting trip in the forest around Mihintale ' what are you doing to the poor animals'. Thus began the introduction of the sublime teachings of the Buddha to Sri Lanka’s majority of the people who have embraced its tenets ever since.

Next week, despite the lockdown due to the COVID-19 virus, they will celebrate the occasion in their own pious way, like they did Vesak last month.

A Government such as the incumbent one has proclaimed it will be administered on Buddhist philosophy. One of the fundamental teachings of the Enlightened One is to be compassionate to all creatures that have life. It behoves this Government therefore, if it is to walk the talk, to dust off the draft Animal Welfare Bill that must have got pigeon-holed somewhere, probably in the Justice Ministry, and have it implemented as soon as possible.

This draft has been waiting for over a decade to ensure passage to law. Many non-Buddhist countries have already given constitutional status to animal rights, but Sri Lanka cannot even pass an ordinary law despite its historical animal-friendly, socio-cultural and religious heritage. What is the Government waiting for?