Former Sri Lankan government minster Mervyn Silva and Buddhist monks have called for the government to bring in laws to ban the slaughter of cattle.
The minister commenced a signature campaign calling for the ban by a statue of Anagarika Dharmapala statue last week.
“I am against killing animals and I will stand by the principals of Anagarika Dharmapala,” said Mr Silva. “As a son hailing from Ruhuna, I will do the best I can to stop cattle slaughter.”
Dharmapala, a Sinhala nationalist monk, was hostile to other religions and believed that Buddhism in Sri Lanka was threatened with extinction, making the ascendancy of Sinhala Buddhism his mission (see here).
Mr Silva’s campaign comes following years of attempts of banning cattle slaughter, a religious ritual practiced by some Tamils across the island. Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa had previously blocked the practice, cancelling festivals during his tenure.
See our earlier posts:
Mahinda promises necessary action on Buddhist cattle slaughter demand (21 Feb 2014)
Divine law enforcement (10 Jun 2013)
Monks block Saiva temple extension, claim yet another sacred Buddhist site (12 Oct 2012)
Buddhist party calls for end to animal sacrifices (06 Sep 2012)
Mahinda Rajapakse championing non-violence… against livestock (31 Aug 2012)
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