DVA ‘terribly upset’ by delay in passing Animal Welfare Bill in Sri Lanka

By Sanath Nanayakkare

Meat production is the single greatest cause of global warming and no country will be harmed by global warming more than Sri Lanka as an island nation, so vegetarianism would be a big step towards mitigating the risks of this phenomenon, Bob Isaacson, President /Co-Founder of Dharma Voices for Animals (DVA) told The Island Financial Review recently during an interview at the Marino Beach Colombo.

“And it is the best way to avoid heart disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure etc. So health, environment and compassion are an interrelated topic we talk to the people constantly about. This year alone we have discussed this with over 100,000 people across Sri Lanka with the support of our local volunteers,” he said.

“I came to Sri Lanka in 2015 and since then every day our members have promoted the cause of animal welfare making about 1,400 presentations at Dhamma schools, parent-teacher societies, police stations, army bases, women’s groups, universities etc.”

Mr. Isaacson who has been a practising Buddhist for 30 years especially mentioned that his organization was committed to passing the Animal Welfare Bill in Sri Lanka.

“This bill was actually drafted here in Sri Lanka in 2006 as a result of consultations at parliamentary committee level. It has been almost 18 years now. But nothing has happened. We had a commitment from a super majority about 140 members of parliament to pass the bill. We are patient about the possibility of it happening but it’s frustrating. Still we talk about the bill via social media, post interviews with members of parliament and celebrities to spread the message of the importance of the bill. DVA reconsolidated its effort to get the bill passed in 2019. And in February 2022, DVA was able to get the Cabinet approval for the bill. Even after the Cabinet approval, it is not moving through parliament and this is very frustrating,” he said.

Dharma Voices for Animals (DVA) is an organization committed both to practicing the teachings of the Buddha (the Dharma) and to speaking out when actions and the policies lead to animal suffering. They want to be the voice of the animals who cannot speak the human language. They speak out about the harm people cause other sentient beings when they eat them, use their body parts as clothing, or use products that are tested on them. While DVA recognizes the challenges of living in a complex, modern society, they wish to promote the choices that provide the greatest reduction of animal suffering.

With a global team of volunteers, DVA works to accomplish its mission by engaging in advocacy, education, and outreach efforts with Buddhists throughout the world. Their Sri Lanka mission has 15-regional coordinators (volunteers) in the northern and southern parts of the country.