The issue of this stamp marks Sri Lanka as the pioneer in South Asia in having a national policy that uses humane methods for rabies eradication, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a message on the occasion of the issuance of a new stamp yesterday (05) to mark the policy of using humane methods for rabies eradication and dog population control.

The directive given by me, in the Vesak season of 2006, to stop the cruel practice of killing dogs for rabies eradication and dog population control, was in keeping with the spirit of compassion that is at the core of Buddhist teaching, and is part of our cultural tradition, he further stated.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa needs to be applauded all over the world, not just for banning the killing of dogs for rabies eradication – which was a foolish and cruel policy that had no effect on the spread of disease at all – but also for bringing out a stamp to commemorate it, said Smt Maneka Gandhi, MP, India in a message sent on the occasion.

Following are the messages of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Smt Maneka Gandhi, MP, India.