Sri Lanka to explore banning animal sacrifice at religious events

Sri Lanka is taking measures to explore the possibility of banning animal sacrifice at religious events, the Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne said.

Addressing Hindu religious leaders of the Gampaha district at the Gampaha District Secretariat Tuesday, the Prime Minister said the animal slaughter is a disgusting sight at religious events.

He said two Hindu Kovils in Munneswaram are conducting animal sacrifice in public which is condemned by many including Hindus.

The prime Minister said that stern action should be taken against this scandalous behavior at religious centers.

He said relevant officials have been asked to study in depth the Indian law against animal sacrifice that applies to Kovils in India.

"The relevant officials have been asked to study the legal provision in this regard," he told the Hindu religious leaders.

The government deployed riot police in August during the festival of the Munneswaram Kali Amman Hindu Temple in Chilaw in the North Western Province to prevent angry protestors from marching to block the ritual where around 300 goats and large number of fowl were sacrificed.