Petition urging passage of Sri Lanka's animal welfare bill

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Colombo, Sri Lanka -- Sri Lanka holds a unique place in the world, with the longest continuous history of Buddhism of any nation. Buddhism has been the major religion in the island since its official introduction in the 3rd century BC by Arahant Mahinda, the son of the Emperor Ashoka of India, and over 70% of the population is Buddhist.

The sangha (Order of Monks) has existed in a largely unbroken lineage since its introduction in the 3rd century, and Sri Lankan monks and lay people have played a prominent role in spreading Theravada Buddhism to Asia, the West and even Africa.

Buddhism is so integral to the national identity that it is explicitly included in the Sri Lankan Constitution. Article 9 states:

“The Republic of Sri Lanka shall give to Buddhism the foremost place and accordingly it shall be the duty of the State to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana, while assuring to all religions the rights granted by Articles 10 and 14(1)(e).”

In October, 2010, an important piece of legislation known as the Animal Welfare Bill was introduced in Parliament as a Private Member’s Bill, the first of its kind since 1907. The Bill, which applies to all animals, provides extensive protections to ensure that practices in Sri Lanka are in keeping with the central tenet of non-harm to all animals enshrined in the First Precept. Among its provisions are: A duty of care on the part of those in charge of animals to treat them humanelyPrevention of cruelty to animalsThe establishment of a 16-member National Animal Welfare Authority to administer the legislation, develop policies, and strengthen and expand the existing enforcement mechanismsThe appointment of Animal Welfare Inspectors with police powersOversight of slaughtered animalsOversight of animal experimentation with an emphasis on alternativesStandards for transporting animalsThe right of any person to bring a lawsuit on behalf of an animalIncreased penalties for violation of animal protection laws

Despite the urgency of the need for an Animal Welfare Law and its critical function of ensuring that Sri Lanka remains true to its Buddhist principles, thereby retaining its role as the pre-eminent Buddhist nation in the world, over two years have lapsed since the introduction of the Animal Welfare Bill in Parliament in October, 2010, with no sign of steps being taken toward its enactment.

Dharma Voices for Animals (DVA) believes that this legislation falls squarely within our mission of addressing animal suffering within the Buddhist community, and to help in this cause we will be presenting a petition to the President of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, and to other Government officials urging them, on behalf of animals, to help make this law a reality. As supporters of DVA, we ask you to join in this effort by adding your name to this important petition.

PETITION

Dharma Voices for Animals is a non-profit organization based in the United States of America whose mission is to increase awareness of the suffering of animals within the Buddhist Dharma community. Among our worldwide membership are many well-known western Dharma teachers, Tibetan monk Geshe Thupten Phelgye, who served ten years in the Tibetan Parliament in Exile and considers his Holiness the Dalai Lama as his teacher, Lama Shri Sadhu Dharmavira, and the Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan, Vice President of the World Fellowship of Buddhists.

Sri Lanka is the home of Theravada Buddhism, with a rich Buddhist civilization that began more than two millennia ago. The cultural heritage of Sri Lanka is a shining example of the power and influence of the Buddha’s teachings. In keeping with these teachings, Sri Lanka is also heir to a rich and unique history with respect to animal rights and welfare, with historical rock inscriptions and ancient chronicles, e.g. Mahawamsa, providing evidence of the extensive state protection that has been historically granted to animals. The ethic of Ahimsa (non-violence towards other sentient beings), a cardinal tenet in Buddhism as well as Hinduism, has been a paradigm of public administration and justice throughout the country’s history, with the social and legal history of Sri Lanka providing numerous examples of the Buddhist attitude of compassion towards animals. These include a series of royal decrees completely banning the killing of animals throughout their kingdoms, the establishment of animal hospitals as early as 341 AD, and a widely followed historical taboo against the eating of animals. In short, it is fair to say that Sri Lanka has been the model of a country that puts into practice the central tenet of the First Precept – non-harm to all animals.

Despite this exemplary history, however, it has been over 100 years since Sri Lanka has enacted an animal rights and welfare law as a primary piece of legislation. The governing statute, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance, dates back to 1907, the British colonial period. This law is antiquated, and it completely fails to address the welfare of animals in modern society. Its limitations are particularly apparent when compared to animal welfare legislation of neighboring countries such as India and Bhutan or western countries such as England or Australia. For example, the maximum punishment it provides for the heinous crime of cruelty perpetrated on an animal in violation of its provisions is a fine of 100 Rupees – barely $1 U.S.

The inadequacy of existing legislation to safeguard the welfare of animals is strikingly inconsistent with Sri Lanka’s role as the pre-eminent Buddhist nation in the world. Moreover, it neglects a core principle codified in Article 9 of the Constitution, which states that “it shall be the duty of the State to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana.” Without a fundamental revision of its laws, Sri Lanka risks abandoning the legacy of an animal-friendly cultural heritage that dates back almost to the time of the Buddha and neglecting its responsibility explicitly mandated by the Constitution.

In an effort to rectify this situation and bring Sri Lanka’s laws regarding animals up to modern standards, in 2010 a Private Member’s Bill – based on the Animal Welfare Bill prepared by Sri Lanka’s Law Commission in 2006 – was presented to Parliament. Unfortunately, it has not been acted upon. Its passage in Parliament is critical for Sri Lanka to maintain its status as the leading Buddhist country in the world.

Mahatma Gandhi’s famous statement is as valid today as it was when he said:

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”  

The signers of this petition are people from all over the world who are proud of Sri Lanka’s role in safeguarding the Dharma and hopeful that Sri Lanka will continue this tradition in all its aspects, including the fundamental teaching of non-harm to animals. Accordingly, we urge His Excellency Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa and other Government officials of Sri Lanka to enact the Animal Welfare Bill without any further delay.

SIGN PETITION HERE
http://dharmavoicesforanimals.org/petitions/

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World Fellowship of Buddhists takes step towards promotion of animal welfare

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Colombo, Sri Lanka -- The World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) in its final Declaration read out at the conclusion of the 26th General Conference held in Yeosu, South Korea from June 11-16, 2012, called on humanity, among other things, to extend compassion and loving kindness to all living beings as advocated by the Buddha.

The placing of an emphasis by the WFB in its final Declaration on the need for greater moral concern to be shown for the welfare of other living beings was pursuant to the adoption of a Resolution by the WFB Standing Committee for Humanitarian Services chaired by Rev.  Ikuko Hibino of Japan (Chairperson) and Dr. Basumitra Barua of Bangladesh (Co- Chairperson)  during  the Conference to the effect that ‘ Humanitarian Services be extended to all living beings, not just human beings to be in line with the teachings of the Lord Buddha – ” Sabbe Satta Sukhita Hontu ” – ‘ Let All Beings be Happy‘.

This development in the expansion of the WFB mission to address the plight of not only human beings but also  that of other living creatures trapped in the unending cycle of Samsara was largely due to a move made prior to the commencement of the Conference by  Mr. Senaka Weeraratna, Hony. Secretary, German Dharmaduta Society, Regional Centre of the WFB based in Sri Lanka, who handed in a draft Resolution  sponsored by the German Dharmaduta Society calling for the establishment of an Animal Welfare sub – Committee to work under the aegis of the WFB Standing Committee for Humanitarian Services.

The full text of this draft Resolution reads as follows:    

Whereas

Buddhism places an unequivocal high emphasis on peace and non –violence, expresses moral concern and respect for the lives of all living beings on the indisputable basis that life is dear to all, and extols the cultivation of loving – kindness and compassion on par with that of a mother who protects with her life her only child, and calls on humanity to cherish all living beings with a boundless heart radiating kindness over the entire world (Karaniya Metta Sutta);

 Whereas

As much as the protection of the ecological environment including its living creatures is of paramount importance, and a moral and civic responsibility has been cast on humanity to prevent the rapid diminution of earth’s resources which are finite, likewise the curtailment of the abuse and cruelty committed on animals is a moral obligation that need to be emphasized and supported particularly by Buddhist Organisations committed to the propagation and spread, and practice of Buddhism;

 Whereas

The World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) has responded to the need for supporting humanitarian causes in the world by establishing a Standing Committee on Humanitarian Services;

It is Hereby Resolved by the General Council of the WFB at the WFB Korea Conference 2012 to establish a Sub – Committee on Animal Welfare under the aegis of the Standing Committee on Humanitarian Services:

i) To promote Animal Welfare generally in accordance with the Buddhist tenets of compassion for living beings,

ii)  To monitor legislation and enforcement of laws on Animal Protection and Welfare in various countries with a view to ushering in reform and updating of such legislation incorporating modern standards of treatment of animals, and

iii) To provide an Annual Report with Recommendations and Measures adopted towards the prevention of cruelty and abuse of animals; and promotion of animal welfare in the member countries of WFB, and in the rest of the world. 

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