• Bill proposes increased fines and jail sentences 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development this week announced that the Government will soon take steps to advance the proposed Animal Welfare Bill, asserting that the current administration has no objections to its enactment.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (25), Secretary to the Ministry, D.P. Wickremasinghe, stated that the Bill must be resubmitted to the Cabinet of Ministers of the new Government to secure approval for its progression. He emphasised that the present administration has no reservations about the proposed Bill and assured that necessary steps will be taken to present it to Parliament in the near future.

Wickremasinghe further clarified that no changes have been made to the Bill despite the change in Government. However, the approval of the new Cabinet is required for it to proceed, and the ministry intends to present it at an upcoming meeting.

In January 2022, the Cabinet of Ministers under the Ranil Wickremesinghe Government approved the Animal Welfare Bill, which applies to owned, wild, farm, and stray animals. The Bill proposes a maximum fine of Rs. 125,000 and/or a minimum prison sentence of three years for offences against animals. Although it received Cabinet approval and was hailed by animal welfare activists as a significant step forward, the Bill has since stalled without progressing towards enactment.

Meanwhile, several parties, including veterinarians and animal rights activists, have accused the former Agriculture Minister, Mahinda Amaraweera, of attempting to dilute the Bill with amendments deemed unconstitutional. These parties also allege that he delayed its passage through Parliament.