Protect our Fauna and Flora

His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka, the Hon. Ranil Wickramasinghe, Prime Minister, Hon. Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, Hon. John Amarathunga, Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs.

A member of your cabinet, Skills Development and Vocational Training Deputy Minister Karunarathne Paranawithana has reportedly proposed that existing wildlife laws should be amended and new laws implemented to not only allow the killing of animals but to also legalise the trade in wildlife internationally.

Mr Paranawithrana’s proposals not only go against international laws against the trafficking of wild life but also conflict with our own fauna and flora acts as written in our constitution.

In a world of diminishing resources, when natural cover, the very existents of fauna and flora is under threat, when man’s actions are resulting in floods, drought, escalating natural disasters as forest cover is removed, when the very air we all breath is becoming increasingly contaminated there is an onus on us all to protect, cherish what little remains.

This petition is an appeal to you, the Government of Sri Lanka that even the consideration of such a proposal is paramount to betraying we the people who voted for this government in the hope of #Yahapalanaya #GoodGovernance, that you would usher in a new era to this our nation which has suffered for so many years as those in power chose to abuse their position, to bring this nation of ours to the brink of a point of no return.

We the signatories to this petition ask that you not only publicly reject this proposal by the said Deputy Minister but that you and the Government of Sri Lanka move to strengthen our laws to ensure that we go even further to protect our fauna and flora from such poor judgment on the part of someone elected to represent us, the people, in parliament.