I went to the butchers today (October 4 , 2000) to buy some bones for my dog only to find the meat stall closed. I was informed that this was due to a directive by the government as it was "World Animal Day". (However, abundant supplies of all manner of processed meat were available for purchase by the more affluent section of society at a nearby supermarket).

Is it really expected by whoever was responsible for issuing this directive that closing meat stalls on "World Animals Day" is evidence of compassion towards animals? For one thing, anyone who knew that meat stalls were to be closed on this day would have stocked up in advance. Secondly, fish stalls were open and doing a brisk trade. (In my studies at school, I learnt that fish are animals and not plants, fungi or micro-organisms). Issuing edicts like this is not appropriate in a vibrant democracy, where the operation of market forces is said to be encouraged.

It is perhaps ironic that the net result of the closure of meat stalls today was that my dog (presumably one of the "World Animals") did not get his recommended daily quota of bones, which he enjoys.

Dr. Rohan H. Wickramasinghe
Colombo 7