The Sri Lanka Guardian recently (October 10) carried an article alleging that the local authorities in Sri Lanka are cruelly seizing and gassing stray dogs, implying that such treatment is to be extended to LTTE suspects in the North.

As most Sri Lankans will undoubtedly be aware, in May 2006 President Mahinda Rajapaksa issued a directive, which made it illegal to round up and destroy stray dogs, which was the practice since colonial times. This was in keeping with his belief that cruelty to animals is a disgrace to humanity, stated in the Mahinda Chinthana, and is the accepted policy of the Government.

At the same time, it was directed that this brutal and archaic method should be a replaced by a scientific and humane system of dog population and rabies control. Ample sums of money to implement sterilization programmes for dog population control, and vaccination of dogs against rabies were released and since 2006 the stray dog population in urban areas has seen a marked decline, just as the incidence of rabies This programme is ongoing, and the Government, in conjunction with Provincial Councils and local authorities across Sri Lanka will continue to make inroads into this social and health issue.

The Sri Lanka Guardians recent report - http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2010/10/ titled “From gassing the dogs to human gassing in Sri Lanka ”, alleged that the authorities in Colombo and Jaffna were collecting, starving and then either gassing or drowning stray dogs.

The article went on to link these activities to the alleged murder of civilians through similar means on a mass scale at the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka .

Not only was the article extremely damaging to a nation that is on the long road to recovery after a painful three decades of conflict, there was absolutely no substance to the allegations. There were no facts, no figures, no witnesses and no evidence of any substance.

In fact, there was no proof whatsoever that any of the allegations with regards to the killing of dogs or humans were actually true.

This sort of irresponsible writing is more than bad journalism. It is damaging to the country and casts long shadows across several media outlet as to their adherence to truth and objectivity.

For the record, these alleged practices in relation to animals are illegal under the law of the land – the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, and individuals violating its provisions face prosecution.

The murder of civilians is clearly contrary to every national and international law and it goes without saying that anyone accused of this crime will stand trial, and if convicted, will experience the full might of the law.

Contrary to this unsubstantiated and viciously motivated report by the Sri Lanka Guardian, Sri Lanka remains the only country in all of Asia to carry out a humane and modern policy for the eradication of rabies and dog population control, as recommended by the WHO, for societies that believe in tolerance of and compassion to animals.