The JHU, partner of Mahinda Rajapakse’s SLFP, have called for the ban on animal sacrifices at religious events.

The party, made up of Buddhist monks, said it is preparing a draft document on the proposed ban on rituals, conducted by some Tamils on the island.

“We hope to see an end to this practice immediately because it today’s modern world these practices are not needed to perform religious service,” a JHU official told Bikyamasr.com on Thursday.

"The Buddhist belief is that by killing an animal you are killing what could be your mother, daughter, grandfather and so on, so it is not a good practice to continue.”

The spokesman of the JHU, Nishantha Sri Warnasingha told Xinhua that Sri Lanka was a Buddhist country and as such had a right to protect animals, as Buddhist teachings decree.

“We need to protect the animals so we will push for the ban. So many countries have tight laws to protect animal rights. Our laws must be strengthened,” Warnasinghe said.

The action by the Buddhists is mainly targeted at a 1000 year old Tamil Saivite temple in Chilaw, which has an age-old custom of sacrificing animals.

The temple in Muneswaram cancelled the ritual in August, after a request by the head priest to President Rajapakse to allow them to hold the ritual was ignored.

Several politicians had agitated against the temple and threatened with protests if temple officials went ahead with the ritual.