We were shocked at the sight of dogs being walked, and disabled animals dragged, in the demonstration and kept tied at Hyde Park the UNP organized venue of the meeting on Tuesday December 21, 2004, to protest against the Supreme Court’s sentence of imprisonment imposed on S. B. Dissanayake, former minister and Member of Parliament.

It was announced by the media that these dogs were brought to the demonstration and protest meeting by Asath Sally, Deputy Mayor of Colombo.

We vehemently condemn and protest the use of innocent animals for achieving political ends, in this case particularly stray dogs that are usually ruthlessly rounded up by the Colombo Municipal Council for killing. We consider it moral depravity that the supporters of politicians who are considered reviled should abuse and make a mockery of animals as to dress them in the colours of one’s political opponents, and parade them in public.

We accuse Deputy Mayor Sally, the Mayor of Colombo and the Chief Veterinary Surgeon of the CMC for making frivolous use of the Anti Rabies Unit of the CMC to catch and display stray dogs for political ends, and for flouting the law against Cruelty to Animals.`A0

The farce that is carried out by the CMC and loudly proclaimed by Deputy Mayor Sally that stray dogs are a threat to humans and should be eliminated wherever they are seen is exposed by them having rounded up stray dogs from the Vihara Maha Devi Park area, and parading them in the midst of a large public rally.

`A0We appeal to the Chief Minister of the Western Provincial Council and the Police to take appropriate punitive action against the offenders, whatever their positions may be.`A0