Munneswaram Kovil to go ahead with animal sacrifice

^{Police officers stand guard near the entrance to the Sri Bhadra Kali Amman Kovil in Munneswaram during the protest by the Multi-Religious Alliance for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on Sunday. Pic by – Jude Samantha}

The animal sacrifice at the annual feast of the Munneswaram Sri Bhadra Kali Amman Kovil in Chilaw will go ahead, despite protests by religious groups and animal rights groups, says the chief priest of the Kovil.

Carrying out our religious observances in a proper manner has become difficult due to the pressure from certain groups, Kalimuthu Sivapathasundaram said.

He said that they have sent a letter to the President seeking assistance to conduct annual religious ceremony, which is to take place on September 01.

Meanwhile Attorney Lalani Perera of the Animal Welfare Trust (AWT) says they seek a court order preventing the ceremony from being held.

Protesters led by Buddhist monks marched toward the Temple on Sunday (26) against the annual ritual of animal sacrifice while heated argument between the representatives of the religious groups, the Kovil priests, devotees and police officers had ensued.

Minister Mervyn Silva has said he would conduct a Sathyakriya at the Kovil next Saturday to protest against the ritual. Last year, the minister intervened and removed the animals that were to be sacrificed.