Today’s beef politics

Without concentrating on the present economic crisis generated partly by the Covid 19 pandemic and partly by the maladministration of the economy by the previous government, why has the prime minister created an issue on cattle slaughter when the government should be focusing on issues and much more urgent matters pertaining to the wobbling economy.

As expected, the Buddhist clergy is full of praise for the PM’s intention. Why have they selected bovine species in particular to make an issue. There is much more killing of poultry for the table, including the alms offered to the Buddhist clergy. I am a Buddhist, and according to Buddhism that I have learnt, killing of any animal is a sin. It is the influence of Hinduism that has forced Buddhists to treat cattle differently.

I am sure President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is more a patriot than a politician, will not agree with his brother’s ill-advised foray into cheap religious politics.

INDRASENA SAMARATUNGA