Lab samples drawn from dairy cows which were imported from Australia were infected with Mycoplasma bovis bacteria, the Presidential Commission of Inquiry heard today (Jun 26).
Dr Devappriya Senadheera, a government veterinarian in Maskeliya made this revelation while testifying before the Presidential Commission probing state sector corruption under the present government.
It was revealed before the Commission that three samples from the liver and lung of the dairy heifers had been sent for testing to a private medical laboratory.
These tests had shown that the cattle had been infected by the M. bovis bacteria, Dr Senadheera testified adding that this strain was not commonly found in Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, Dr. Senadheera told the Commission there was a possibility that these animals could have been infected while being imported to the country.
Earlier, Veterinary Research Officer Dr. Hemal Kothalawala had told the Presidential Commission that these cattle had been affected with Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD).
In 2014, a Cabinet memorandum had proposed the importation of 20,000 cows in stages for private farmers to improve the dairy industry, under an agreement between the Sri Lankan and Australian governments.
Wellard Rural Exports had been selected to supply the dairy cows between 2017 and 2018.
Aggrieved farmers who purchased the cows filed complaints at the Commission regarding the procedure in which more than 20,000 dairy heifers had been imported to the country from Australia.
The farmers claimed that the cows had either produced less milk or had died subsequent to being sold to local farmers.
However, Wellard issued a statement in April claiming that the animals provided to Sri Lanka were healthy and free of disease. Relevant health certificates before the heifers were exported, can be viewed here
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