|
By Risidra Mendis
They
are run over by speeding and reckless drivers and left
on the streets to die — in most cases slow and agonising
deaths. Others roam around the streets with no food and
water. In some cases they are stoned and chased away
when they go in search of food. Females soon after
littering can be seen frantically searching for food
with no one to turn to. This is the plight of the stray
dogs in a predominantly Buddhist country.
For
many years these innocent animals were rounded up by the
municipal councils and gassed in the dog pounds. However
a decision was taken by President Mahinda Rajapakse to
put a stop to the brutal killing of thousands of strays
by gassing and poisoning at dog pounds.
In
commemoration of the 2550th Buddha Jayanthi celebrations
in May 2006, President Mahinda Rajapakse, an animal
lover himself, made this directive law, to stop the
horrendous killing of strays in the country. This is a
decision that has been greatly appreciated by animal
rights activists.
Strays
can now be seen roaming the streets in most parts of the
country. The killing of strays has stopped, but what
happens to the strays that suffer from disease,
starvation and the immense cruelty at the hands of
humans?
The best option
Shelters are probably the best option for these innocent
animals. But then again there are those who oppose the
setting up of these shelters with the argument that
these strays should be left on the streets in their
areas, as they are community dogs. But for those strays
who are left starving, undergoing agony with broken
limbs and serious illnesses, a shelter is the only
option to give them a better tomorrow and a secure
future.
The
only shelter in the country run by an animal welfare
organisation has no room to take in the seriously sick
and wounded strays. However there is still hope for the
strays in the country — thanks to Kim Cooling a social
worker and an animal welfare worker from
London
who is in the process of starting up another animal
shelter in the country.
Cooling formed ‘Animal SOS Sri Lanka’ in 2006, with the
aim of helping the destitute strays in the country. This
small UK registered charity was formed after Cooling
witnessed the appalling situation of the strays in the
country.
Speaking to The Sunday Leader Cooling says she and her
friend Morag Longmuir work relentlessly against the odds
to help the long-suffering street dogs in Sri Lanka. The
plight of the strays together with other animals in Sri
Lanka is truly heartbreaking and a reflection on any
society let alone a Buddhist one.
“We
have witnessed the cruelty imposed on strays whilst
working individually as self-funded volunteers in
different parts of the country. I cannot begin to
explain the horrors and suffering we have witnessed over
the years while working with these street dogs. We have
many heartbreaking stories and I often cry when I think
about some of the lovely dogs that we have failed to
save,” Cooling said.
Negative propaganda and unfounded fear
She
went on to say that ignorance and indifference play a
pivotal role in this horror of animal suffering most of
which is generated from the negative propaganda and
unfounded fear whipped up by the Public Health
Department. “A fear that causes few humans to feed or
provide water to the strays thereby confining a dog to a
solitary life of pain and suffering with no hope of
compassion from humans. I have three Sri Lankan street
dogs living with me in London.”
“Two
of these dogs had their tails hacked off and one called
Sid was beaten and sustained fractured fore legs, which
will reduce his life span. We hope to reduce the animal
suffering and drastically raise the standards in animal
welfare and veterinary care and leave in place a legacy
for their future,” Cooling said.
She
adds that a shelter would give these seriously sick and
injured dogs and puppies a new lease of life.
Cooling through her self funded projects has purchased a
land of four acres close to Ahangama for an animal
shelter. The shelter will be a safe haven primarily for
street dogs. The shelter will be a sanctuary for
long-term disabled animals as well. The shelter will
have a well equipped surgical facility to offer quality
medical care and operations, proper treatment and
nutrition and will introduce modern methods in
veterinary care with volunteer foreign vets working
alongside Sri Lankan vets to raise the standards in
veterinary care.
Veterinary treatment and rehabilitation
“The
shelter will have a clinic where veterinary treatment
and rehabilitation, wound management, rescue, refuge,
fostering and rehoming, sterilisation and other surgical
procedures, parasitic control, vaccinations, blood
testing and the treatment of tropical diseases will be
possible. We will maintain high standards when treating
animals. The shelter will help to rescue pups and
kittens from rubbish heaps and roadsides and once
sterilised and vaccinated, rehomed with the aim of
reducing the number of stray animals and risk of rabies
in animals and humans,” Cooling explained.
She
added that drugs that are not available in the country
would be brought down to treat the sick animals. Tick
fever and tick infested puppies and dogs are a common
problem in the country, the reason being that there
isn’t a good medication for the cure of ticks and tick
fever. We will introduce effective medical treatment for
ticks at this shelter.
“The
animals at the shelter will have the freedom to roam
around on this land. We hope to complete the shelter by
June or July depending on the funds we receive. We need
to complete the shelter as soon as possible if we are to
make our mission a success and save as many strays from
the streets in the country,” Cooling said.
Cooling is yet to receive funds from Sri Lankan donors.
“Work on the shelter has commenced with the funds I
raised in UK. We are in urgent need of funds if we are
to complete this shelter soon.
Cooling is also in need of the services of an
experienced veterinary surgeon to tend to the animals at
the shelter. Cooling can be contacted via email:
coolingkim@aol.com or on her website
www.animalsos-sl.com
The long wait for Galle Face
By Raisa Wickrematunge
In
1859, British Governor of Ceylon, Henry Ward created a
space “for the ladies and children of
Colombo.”
This stretch of land was dubbed ‘Galle Face Green’
because it literally faced the Galle Road. In the 1820s,
the Green was originally used for horse-racing, with the
esplanade being levelled to this end. At that time, it
was known as the Colpetty Racecourse.
However, it became a parade ground following
independence. Armed forces formed a triumphal guard of
honour and marched down Galle Road to the cheers of
onlookers on the other side. Later still, in May 1956,
when May Day was announced as a holiday, left-wing
celebrations were held at the Green.
It was
a centre for political rallies and large gatherings. One
thing was clear ever since early colonial British times
— even as early as the 1840s and ’50s, the Green was
used as a promenade, a place to see and be seen. People
walked the Green on foot, and even crossed it by
carriage or on horseback.
The
largest open space in
Colombo
In the
1960s, a chunk of the Green was sold for commercial
development, and many of the colonial style houses there
destroyed. Despite this, however, Galle Face Green is
now the largest open space in Colombo. The Galle
Face Green as we know gives rise to vivid images; the
surge of the waves, the hiss of sea-spray, and the rays
of the setting sun.
Galle
Face Green was one place where the young and old alike
mingled. On weekends, this stretch of land was
jam-packed with people, late into the night. It had a
unique atmosphere all its own. The activities here were
numerous — there were pony rides, kite-sellers loudly
advertising their colourful wares, and little kiosks
serving everything from ice cream to fried lentils,
banana chips, balloons and toys.
In the
evening many of them peddled their wares by the light of
burning kerosene lamps. I remember driving past the
Green on Wesak days and seeing loud musical shows taking
place on makeshift stages, for hordes of people. I
remember the bright hovering kites flown by laughing
children as their parents took a walk on the sea front.
“The
lungs of
Colombo”
I
remember watching delighted infants experiencing their
first taste of the sea. I remember giggling from the
balcony of the Intercontinental at the teenage couples
who ventured to the benches in the shade, and discreetly
hid behind a multitude of umbrellas. I’m sure many
people have fond childhood memories on the Green — no
wonder it was called “the lungs of Colombo.”
Several years ago, the Green was closed to the public,
in order to carry out an ambitious redevelopment scheme,
slated to reach completion by 2006. In fact, there have
been many schemes to redevelop the Green. One landscape
management company was asked to replant “Santana” grass,
a hardier variety of Bermuda grass, along with a new
irrigation system, by the end of March 2007.
There
was even talk of building an underground restaurant,
complete with seven stores, a stand for music shows,
drinking water fountains, and a new light system,
supposed to be in place by early 2008. In August 2007,
the President asked Plantation Industries Minister, D.
M. Jayaratne to plant coconut trees alongside the
palmyrah trees growing at the Green, and it was said
that these trees would produce coconuts in five colours
— brown, red, orange, yellow and green, in order to make
the place more aesthetically pleasing.
Public property
The
Galle Face Green has also seen its share of legal
battles. For instance, in 2003, the EAP Group leased the
Green from the Urban Development Authority (UDA). There
were plans to turn it into a carnival or funfair, with
plans to have fashion and music shows and hawker centres.
However the Supreme Court intervened, saying the Green
was public property and always would be. Then around
three years ago, an injunction was enforced on the
contractor who was maintaining the Green at the time,
bringing progress to a temporary halt.
Control of the Galle Face Green has shifted from the
Urban Development Authority (UDA) to the Sri Lanka Ports
Authority (SLPA). The Acting Chairman of the SLPA, R. M.
P. B. Wickrema said that the Green was currently closed
to the public, because of ongoing repairs. “After the
march on Independence Day, there were some damages that
we had to repair, so the Green is closed at the moment,”
Wickrema said.
Will be open to the public
Wickrema went on to say that the Green would, however,
be open to the public once the repairs were completed.
He added that the vendors who used to walk the stretch
were still there selling their wares in front of the
Galle Face Hotel. He added that he was unable to say
whether the entire Green would be open for public use,
saying that security concerns could lead to parts of the
Green being closed to the public. The contractor
currently working on repairs and maintenance of the
Green, is a company known as Rajawella Holdings, based
in Kandy.
We all
remember the barbed wire that prevented people from
taking their customary evening stroll, at the peak of
the war. The Green was closed down, due to security
measures and kites no longer flew on the Galle Face
Green.
Now,
with the conflict in the north and east potentially
drawing to a close, there is a possibility that sometime
in the near future, the public may again be able to
enjoy this spot, free from any restrictions.
It is
still possible to take a stroll on the Green, but it is
not the same Galle Face I recall from childhood — not
the buzzing centre of activity, the place for children
to splash in the sea and fly kites, for lovers to meet,
for meeting friends, lively discussions, and early
morning jogs. I can only hope that someday, perhaps in
the near future, we may see the Galle Face Green as we
all remember it.
|
