The Government is awaiting the outcome of several court cases regarding the controversial request to export monkeys to China in order to take a decision, as the importer is keen on proceeding with the request, The Sunday Morning learns.  

Ministry of Agriculture Spokesman Dharma Wanninayake told The Sunday Morning that legal cases filed against the Government’s venture to export monkeys to China were proving to be an obstacle and that the Government would decide on its next step once the cases ended.

The Ministry Spokesman said that the relevant Chinese company continued to express interest in the project.

Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera, earlier this year, revealed that a proposition had been made by a Chinese company to import toque macaques from Sri Lanka.

According to the Minister, some 100,000 monkeys will be exported to China. He had noted that there was an overpopulation of these monkeys in Sri Lanka, which were a pest to farmers as they destroyed swathes of crops on farmland.

Minister Amaraweera, addressing Parliament last week, said: “A Chinese company approached us and expressed interest in procuring monkeys for a number of zoos under its ownership. We were informed that there were 20 private zoos that required monkeys and were asked if we could provide about 1,000-2,000 monkeys as soon as possible. 

“At this point, environmental groups raised objections against this and made various allegations against the Chinese Government as well as the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka. The Chinese company is still interested and talks have advanced, but ultimately this venture must be conducted by the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation.

Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Pavithra Wanniarachchi informed the House that there were a few legal impediments and that the Government was in the process of amending the legislation. 

“The necessary amendments have been referred to the Attorney General’s Department,” she said. 

– By Skandha Gunasekara