Animal sacrifice
at Halavatha Munneswaram Kovil, Sri Lanka
On 25th of August 2010, people at Halavatha Munneswaram Kovil (Sri Lanka) brutally killed 300 goats and 600 chickens. They broke the Rules of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance. But Srilankan Government did not take any action against this barbarian act. However 'Jhathika Sanga Sabhawa' (a Buddhist Organization in Sri Lanka) tried to save these animals from death though all efforts failed, according to the following source.
2011 - animal sacrifice ceremony suspended by court order
In September 2011, a Court order had been issued suspending the annual animal sacrifice ceremony at the Badhrakali Amman Kovil in Munneswaram, Chilaw. Minister Mervyn Silva intervened to prevent the slaughter of the animals.
Based on a report submitted by the Intelligence Unit of the Chilaw Police Division on the annual animal sacrifice of the Badhrakali Kovil at Munneswaram, Chilaw Police Inspector Tusitha Kumara had filed a petition in the Chilaw Courts.
Taking into consideration this petition, the Chilaw Magistrate and Additional District Judge R.M. Jayawardena issued an order suspending the animal sacrifices. Thousands of animals are slaughtered in this annual ritual at the Kovil.
A massive protest was staged when last years sacrifice was held on the 26th of September. Minister Mervyn Silva who arrived at the Kovil today took all the animals that were to be slaughtered to his custody.
2012 - Munneswaram Kovil to go ahead with animal sacrifice despite massive protests
August 27, 2012 - posted in www.adaderana.lk
The animal sacrifice at the annual feast of the Munneswaram Sri Bhadra Kali Amman Kovil in Chilaw will go ahead, despite protests by religious groups and animal rights groups, says the chief priest of the Kovil.
Carrying out our religious observances in a proper manner has become difficult due to the pressure from certain groups, Kalimuthu Sivapathasundaram said.
He said that they have sent a letter to the President seeking assistance to conduct annual religious ceremony, which is to take place on September 01.
Meanwhile Attorney Lalani Perera of the Animal Welfare Trust (AWT) says they seek a court order preventing the ceremony from being held.
Protesters led by Buddhist monks marched toward the Temple on Sunday (26) against the annual ritual of animal sacrifice while heated argument between the representatives of the religious groups, the Kovil priests, devotees and police officers had ensued.
Minister Mervyn Silva has said he would conduct a Sathyakriya at the Kovil next Saturday to protest against the ritual. Last year, the minister intervened and removed the animals that were to be sacrificed.
The animal sacrifice at the annual feast of the Munneswaram Sri Bhadra Kali Amman Kovil in Chilaw will go ahead, despite protests by religious groups and animal rights groups, says the chief priest of the Kovil.
Carrying out our religious observances in a proper manner has become difficult due to the pressure from certain groups, Kalimuthu Sivapathasundaram said.
He said that they have sent a letter to the President seeking assistance to conduct annual religious ceremony, which is to take place on September 01.
Meanwhile Attorney Lalani Perera of the Animal Welfare Trust (AWT) says they seek a court order preventing the ceremony from being held.
Protesters led by Buddhist monks marched toward the Temple on Sunday (26) against the annual ritual of animal sacrifice while heated argument between the representatives of the religious groups, the Kovil priests, devotees and police officers had ensued.
Minister Mervyn Silva has said he would conduct a Sathyakriya at the Kovil next Saturday to protest against the ritual. Last year, the minister intervened and removed the animals that were to be sacrificed.
On August 27, 2012 - 'The Hindu' reported:
A Sri Lankan Minister, who in March this year threatened to break the limbs of journalists who went abroad and spoke ill of Sri Lanka, is in the news again: this time, he wants to stop an animal sacrifice ritual in a Hindu temple, for a second time in two years.
Last year, the Minister, Mervyn Silva, and his followers, descended on the Munneswaram kovil, and took away the animals brought there for an annual sacrifice ritual. This year, tempers are running high in Chilaw — a town just over 70 km north of Colombo on the West Coast — as Mr. Silva has again threatened a repeat of his act.
In normal circumstances, there would be no supporters for the much-abhorred practice; and anyone standing up against the sacrifice will be hailed a hero.
But then, when the sacrifice is in Sri Lanka, conducted at the Munneswaram kovil by the Hindu Tamil community, a minority, and when the opposition is almost monopolised by Buddhist monks, and a Minister who is more known for his brawn, the entire story is given a communal, Sinhala chauvinist angle.
The issue in question is the conduct of the annual animal sacrifice ritual at the Munneswaram Sri Badra Kali Amman Kovil in Chilaw. The temple Chief Priest insists that the “ceremony” would go ahead, and had also sought President Rajapaksa’s help to conduct it on September 1. Tamils in Sri Lanka seem much more devout and take their religion very seriously. They still hold on to many medieval practices, and are willing to undergo a lot more pain in a bid to placate their gods.
Some in the Tamil community told The Hindu that the move to prevent the sacrifice was a direct and calculated affront on the community.
The local Animal Welfare Trust is seeking a court order to prevent the ceremony from being observed; and Buddhist monks took out a procession on Sunday against the ceremony. For now, an uneasy peace reigns in Chilaw.
A Sri Lankan Minister, who in March this year threatened to break the limbs of journalists who went abroad and spoke ill of Sri Lanka, is in the news again: this time, he wants to stop an animal sacrifice ritual in a Hindu temple, for a second time in two years.
Last year, the Minister, Mervyn Silva, and his followers, descended on the Munneswaram kovil, and took away the animals brought there for an annual sacrifice ritual. This year, tempers are running high in Chilaw — a town just over 70 km north of Colombo on the West Coast — as Mr. Silva has again threatened a repeat of his act.
In normal circumstances, there would be no supporters for the much-abhorred practice; and anyone standing up against the sacrifice will be hailed a hero.
But then, when the sacrifice is in Sri Lanka, conducted at the Munneswaram kovil by the Hindu Tamil community, a minority, and when the opposition is almost monopolised by Buddhist monks, and a Minister who is more known for his brawn, the entire story is given a communal, Sinhala chauvinist angle.
The issue in question is the conduct of the annual animal sacrifice ritual at the Munneswaram Sri Badra Kali Amman Kovil in Chilaw. The temple Chief Priest insists that the “ceremony” would go ahead, and had also sought President Rajapaksa’s help to conduct it on September 1. Tamils in Sri Lanka seem much more devout and take their religion very seriously. They still hold on to many medieval practices, and are willing to undergo a lot more pain in a bid to placate their gods.
Some in the Tamil community told The Hindu that the move to prevent the sacrifice was a direct and calculated affront on the community.
The local Animal Welfare Trust is seeking a court order to prevent the ceremony from being observed; and Buddhist monks took out a procession on Sunday against the ceremony. For now, an uneasy peace reigns in Chilaw.
Take action!
Please speak up against this planned animal sacrifice that is in violation to Sri Lanka's 'Rules of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance'. Please raise your concerns by sending a message to one (or all) of the following instances:
Ministry of Cultural Affairs
Ministry of Tourism Sri Lanka
Embassy of Sri Lanka in your country
Your country's embassy in Sri Lanka
Thank you
Update August 31, 2012
The annual ritual of sacrificing hundreds of goats and fowls for a Hindu goddess at a Kovil in Northwestern Sri Lanka has been cancelled after a request made by the country's President.
Kalimuttu Sivapakyasundaram, the Chief Priest of Munneswaram Sri Bhadrakali Kovil of Chilaw, says that, on the request made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the animal sacrifice which was due to be held in the kovil on the 1st of September, was cancelled.
The President has requested the chief priest of the Kovil, to stop the animal sacrifice, since it is inappropriate to conduct an animal sacrifice, while, the Sacred Kapilawastu Relics of Lord Buddha, is brought from India and being exhibited in Sri Lanka.
However, the chief priest further says that, the administrative council of the kovil has decided to cancel the animal sacrifice only in this year.
Meanwhile, 17 religious and animal rescue organizations have filed a case before Supreme Court, seeking a ban on this animal sacrifice.
Source
The President has requested the chief priest of the Kovil, to stop the animal sacrifice, since it is inappropriate to conduct an animal sacrifice, while, the Sacred Kapilawastu Relics of Lord Buddha, is brought from India and being exhibited in Sri Lanka.
However, the chief priest further says that, the administrative council of the kovil has decided to cancel the animal sacrifice only in this year.
Meanwhile, 17 religious and animal rescue organizations have filed a case before Supreme Court, seeking a ban on this animal sacrifice.
Source