Go online and give a hand to your four- legged friends
View(s):The Otara Foundation is to press the government to enact the new Animal Welfare Bill by mobilising mass public support for the legislation via a 100,000 on-line signature campaign launched to mark World Animal Day, celebrated globally on October 4.
The appeal, addressed to President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe urges the two leaders to evaluate and pass the new or amended bill, which was intended to replace Sri Lanka’s antiquated Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1906, but has been pending enactment since 2006.
‘Today, our animals — stray, captive, domesticated or wild — face many difficulties at the hands of humans. They are beaten, abused, stoned, shot at, trapped and killed on a daily basis and the need for proper legislation by way of an amended Animal Welfare Bill has never been stronger than it is right now,” said Otara Gunewardene .
Now, concerned citizens can support the Foundation’s appeal that the draft legislation be reviewed and enacted by the new government, by placing their signatures online at www.otarafoundation.com.
The online appeal also provides visitors with a link to a Sinhala translation as well as links to the draft and more information on the bill.
A link to the online appeal can also be accessed by visiting Otara’s facebook page:www.facebook.com/otaradeland twitter account: www.twitter.com/otaradel